Trainer Bob Baffert entered three in the Lewis, a race he has won a record fourteen times, including eight consecutive years.
When Plutarch needed time to mature last year, Baffert and his staff continued to work with him. He has taken an unusual route for a potential Triple Crown contender. Baffert let him onto the field last year, “just to get some racing in him.”
“We spent so much time on this horse, he was so immature,” Baffert said. “He reminds me of Authentic in a way, where he’s developing slowly, but he’s getting better every week. He’s got a great mind. He’ll figure it out.”
Secured Freedom, a recent impressive first winner for trainer Tim Yaakteen and the 3-1 second choice on the board, recovered from a slow start to fly late, with Desert Gate emerging in third place.
Desert Gate, who had the best credentials of the Baffert trio, went away as 6-5 favorites but missed the break from the rail and finished fourth, a nose behind Secured Freedom.
“He’s so one-dimensional and he needs to be in charge,” Baffert said of Desert Gate. “When he missed the break, I knew there was no chance after that.”
Intrepido, winner of last fall’s American Pharoah Stakes presented by DK Horse over Desert Gate and Plutarch, posted the first fraction of :23.49 for the opening quarter-mile, but Plutarch surged forward to take over and was responsible for the other fractions, including a half-mile time of :47.65.
“I felt he broke very alert for me and put me in a great spot,” said jockey Florent Geroux. “When I asked him to go around the track, he responded very well.”
Both Plutarch and Intrepido bravely kept to their duties. They returned home, still fighting each other, and as Intrepido tried to pass Plutarch, the Baffert colt refused to let him pass. Plutarch moved further away, stopping the timer at 1:37.02.
The Lewis offered entry points for the May 2 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. Plutarch earned 20 points, adding to the three he earned when third in the American Pharoah. Intrepido added 10 points to its previously earned 13 points, while Secured Freedom earned six points and Desert Gate added five points to the four it received in American Pharoah. Cherokee Nation, Baffert’s third participant and still a girl, finished fifth, earning two points.
Last year it took Plutarch five tries to get his first, although he always showed promise, finishing second in the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes, third in the American Pharoah and third in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes. After these three stakes, Plutarch went away as an even-money favorite in a maiden event on November 30 on the Del Mar lawn, eventually recording that first victory by an emphatic 4 1/2 lengths.
Baffert had tried a litany of top jockeys on Plutarch, and for the Lewis he turned to Geroux.
‘I called Flo the other day. He was thinking about coming here,” Baffert said. “I told him, ‘Come over here. I have one I can put you on. I think he’s a very good colt.’ I’ve been very lucky with Flo. We did well in Kentucky. He’s sharp. He is a top driver.”
“When I came here, I honestly expected to find a Derby horse,” Geroux added. Bob is a great trainer and has won the Derby six times. So the record book speaks for itself. It is a great honor to drive for him.”
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