The Robert B. Lewis Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses at the distance of one mile on the dirt held annually in late January or early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

History

Inaugurated as the Santa Catalina Handicap in 1935, there was no race in 1936. Upon its return in 1937, it was run as the Santa Catalina California-Bred Championship Stakes until 1940 when it was renamed the Santa Catalina Nursery Stakes and was a three-furlong race for two-year-olds. In 1941 it reverted to its original name, the Santa Catalina Handicap and remained as that until 1964 when it became the Santa Catalina Stakes. In 2007, the race was renamed again in order to honor the prominent racehorse owner Robert B. Lewis, who had died in 2006.

Due to restrictions and consolidations during World War II, there was no race held from 1942 through 1944.

Until 1964, the race was open to horses three years of age and older with the exception of 1940.

The race has been run at a variety of distances: 1935, 2024 to present : 1 mile 1937-1938, 1941, 1945-1946, 1953, 1964-1969, 1971-2010, 2012-2023 : miles 1939, 1947-1952, 1954-1963, 2011 : miles 1940 : 3 furlongs (for 2-year-olds) 1970 : 7 furlongs

The Robert B. Lewis Stakes is one of the key prep races leading to the Santa Anita Derby each year and is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Records Time record: (at the previous distance of miles) 1:40.76 - Crown of Thorns (2008)

Most wins by an owner: 3 - Elmendorf Farm (1977, 1980, 1982)

Most wins by a jockey: 7 - Bill Shoemaker (1962, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1986, 1988) 7 - Laffit Pincay Jr. (1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1985, 1989)

Most wins by a trainer: 14 - Bob Baffert (1999, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance (Miles) Time Grade 2026Plutarch3Florent GerouxBob BaffertMrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor11:37.02III2025Citizen Bull3Martin GarciaBob BaffertSF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan11:36.71III2024Nysos3Flavien PratBob BaffertBaoma Corp11:36.65III2023Newgate3Frankie DettoriBob BaffertSF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables, Schoenfarber, Jay A., Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan1:43.11III2022Messier3John R. VelazquezBob BaffertSF Racing, Starlight Racing, & Madaket Stables1:42.89III2021Medina Spirit3Abel CedilloBob BaffertZedan Racing Stables1:46.26III2020 Thousand Words3 Flavien Prat Bob Baffert Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm1:43.64III2019 Mucho Gusto3 Joe Talamo Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen1:41.81III2018 Lombo3 Flavien Prat Michael Pender Michael V. Lombardi1:45.41III2017 Royal Mo3 Victor Espinoza John Shirreffs Ann & Jerry Moss1:43.48 III2016 Mor Spirit3 Gary Stevens Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen1:43.21 III2015 Dortmund3 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Kaleem Shah1:42.20 III2014 Candy Boy3 Gary Stevens John W. Sadler C R K Stable1:41.83 II2013 Flashback3 Julien Leparoux Bob Baffert Gary & Mary West1:42.95 II2012 I'll Have Another3 Mario Gutierrez Doug O'Neill J. Paul Reddam1:40.84 II2011 Anthony's Cross3 Joel Rosario Eoin G. Harty A D K Racing1:48.63 II2010 Caracortado3 Paul Atkinson Michael Machowsky Lo Hi Racing/Blahut1:41.75 II2009 Pioneerof the Nile3 Garrett Gomez Bob Baffert Zayat Stables1:41.90 II2008 Crown of Thorns3 Victor Espinoza Richard Mandella B. Wayne Hughes1:40.76 II2007 Great Hunter3 Corey Nakatani Douglas F. O'Neill J. Paul Reddam1:42.89 II2006 Brother Derek3 Alex Solis Dan L. Hendricks Cecil N. Peacock1:41.96 II2005 Declan's Moon3 Victor Espinoza Ronald W. Ellis Jay Em Ess Stable1:42.41 II2004 St Averil3 Tyler Baze Rafael Becerra Stan E. Fulton1:41.62 II2003 Domestic Dispute3 David R. Flores Bob Baffert Gary M. Garber1:42.20 II2002 Labamta Babe3 Kent Desormeaux Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann1:42.50 II2001 Millennium Wind3 Chris McCarron David Hofmans David & Jill Heerensperger1:42.38 II2000 The Deputy3 Chris McCarron Jenine Sahadi Team Valor & Gary Barber1:43.04 II1999 General Challenge3 Gary Stevens Bob Baffert Golden Eagle Farm1:42.93 II1998 Artax3 Chris McCarron Randy Bradshaw Paraneck Stable1:42.32 III1997 Hello3 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Al & Sandee Kirkwood1:42.601996 Prince of Thieves3 Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Peter Mitchell1:42.941995 Larry the Legend3 Kent Desormeaux Craig A. Lewis Craig A. Lewis1:42.931994 Wekiva Springs3 Kent Desormeaux Robert Hess Jr. Donald R. Dizney1:41.941993 Art of Living3 Gary Stevens Gary Jones Golden Eagle Farm1:43.481992 Vying Victor3 Corey Black Ian P. D. Jory M/M Marvin Malmuth1:44.331991 Mane Minister3 David R. Flores J. Paco Gonzalez T. McCaffery & John Toffan1:42.601990 Music Prospector3 Frank Olivares Steve Miyadi Silky Green, Inc.1:43.601989 Flying Continental3 Laffit Pincay Jr. Jay M. Robbins Jack Kent Cooke1:43.601988 Lively One3 Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Nelson Bunker Hunt1:43.401987 Stylish Winner3 Gary Stevens Bruce Headley Johnston/Headley/Roncelli1:43.801986 Ferdinand3 Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck1:43.001985 Floating Reserve3 Laffit Pincay Jr. Joseph Manzi Robert E. Hibbert1:42.601984 Tights3 Rafael Meza Laz Barrera Mill House Stable1:43.601983 Fast Passage3 Ed Delahoussaye Laz Barrera Dolly Green1:42.601982 Water Bank3 Darrel McHargue Ron McAnally Elmendorf Farm1:42.401981 Stancharry *3 Laffit Pincay Jr. Melvin F. Stute Cole, Freeman & Gold1:41.401980 Super Moment *3 Donald Pierce Ron McAnally Elmendorf Farm1:44.401980 Rumbo *3 Bill Shoemaker Thomas Bell Jr. Gayno Stable/Bell Bloodstock1:44.601979 Pole Position3 Chris McCarron George E. Goodwin Eldorado Stables1:42.001978 Johnny's Image3 Sandy Hawley Mike R. Mitchell Meryl Ann Tanz1:44.001977 Text3 Donald Pierce Vincent Clyne Elmendorf Farm1:42.001976 An Act3 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Katz, Brun & Roberts et al.1:42.001975 Kinalmeaky3 Bill Shoemaker Lester Holt Helen Kenaston1:42.801974 Rube the Great3 Angel Santiago Pancho Martin Sigmund Sommer1:43.001973 Sham3 Laffit Pincay Jr. Pancho Martin Sigmund Sommer1:45.001972 Knightlander3 Laffit Pincay Jr. Paul K. Parker Robert H. Grant1:42.401971 Unconscious3 Laffit Pincay Jr. John G. Canty Arthur A. Seeligson Jr.1:41.801970 Colorado King, Jr.3 Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Forked Lightning Ranch7-fur.1:25.001969 Inverness Drive3 Bill Shoemaker Joseph Manzi Robert E. Hibbert1:44.801968 Prince Pablo3 Johnny Sellers Linwood J. Brooks Kratz-Thayer1:42.601967 Serve Notice3 Ismael Valenzuela Ted Saladin M/M. B. W. Martin1:43.601966 Exhibitionist3 Eddie Belmonte Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs1:43.201965 Arksroni3 Art Sherman Frank E. Childs M/M. Harry Hart1:42.801964 Count Charles3 Manuel Ycaza Charles Whittingham Flying M Stable1:43.201963 Sea Orbit7 Raymond York John M. Leavitt Wonder Y Ranch1:49.001962 New Policy5 Bill Shoemaker John H. Adams Ralph Lowe1:48.401961 T. V. Lark4 Eddie Arcaro Paul K. Parker C. R. Mac Stable1:49.001960 American Comet4 Tommy Barrow Martin L. Fallon C. W. Smith Ent.1:47.601959 Terrang6 William Boland Carl A. Roles Poltex Stable & R. Bond1:48.601958 Terrang5 William Boland Carl A. Roles Poltex Stable & R. Bond1:49.201957 Honeys Alibi5 Johnny Longden Lev Fanning W-L Ranch Co.1:48.801956 Guerrero4 Johnny Longden Graceton Philpot Peter Strub1:50.001955 Golden Abbey5 Johnny Longden Reggie Cornell W. W. Naylor1:48.801954 Stranglehold5 Billy Pearson Red McDaniel N. G. Phillips1:52.601953 Blue Reading6 Billy Pearson Red McDaniel Clement L. Hirsch1:43.801952 Lion4 William M. Cook Hugh Brundage John Himelhoch1:51.801951 Your Host4 Eric Guerin Harry L. Daniels William Goetz1:48.201950 Moonrush4 Eddie Arcaro Willie Alvarado Anita King / Gus Luellwitz1:51.401949 Stepfather5 Eddie Arcaro Wayne B. Stucki W-L Ranch Co.1:48.801948 On Trust4 Johnny Longden William Molter E. O. Stice1:50.801947 See-Tee-See4 Ralph Neves Art Gruber Hacienda de Cortez1:50.601946 Nanby Pass4 Charley Stevenson Sam Sechrest Norman W. Church1:43.801945 Sea Sovereign3 Ferril Zufelt Bud Stotler Charles S. Howard1:43.801944 No race- No Race No Race No Raceno race0:00.001943 No race- No Race No Race No Raceno race0:00.001942 No race- No Race No Race No Raceno race0:00.001941 Sweepida4 Ralph Neves Larry R. Staples H. C. Hill1:48.001940 Valdina Myth2 Eugene Rodriguez John J. Flanigan Valdina Farm3-fur.0:33.201939 Brown Jade5 John H. Adams Ross E. Cooper Charles E. Cooper1:52.001938 Lady Florise5 Lester Balaski George W. Glick John W. Marchbank1:45.601937 Lloyd Pan4 Harry Richards H. B. Thomas Alexander Pantages1:48.001936 No race- No Race No Race No Raceno race0:00.001935 Bluebeard3 Harry Richards Clyde Phillips William R. Coe1-mile1:40.00 *Run in two divisions in 1980. In 1981, Minnesota Chief won the race in record time but was disqualified and set back to second.

See also Road to the Kentucky Derby List of American and Canadian Graded races Ten Things You Should Know About the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Hello Race Fans!

References

February 21, 1990 New York Times article on the creation of the Preview Stakes Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Pedigree Query