By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $100,000 Robert B. Lewis III Stakes (G3), Santa Anita Park, Race 8

The Robert B. Lewis (G3) is the second of four stops on the Santa Anita road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby and carries with it 42 qualifying points (20-10-6-4-2) to the top five finishers. (4) Intrepido won the American Pharoah (G1) on the Derby trail in October at Santa Anita and then was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He has been training smartly since December for his 3-year-old debut. (1) Desert Gate won the Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar during the summer for Bob Baffert and was second twice since then including the American Pharoah. (2) Plutarch is the second of three Baffert runners in the field. He was third in that American Pharoah and has run twice since then with a maiden win on the turf at Del Mar in November. (7) Secured Freedom broke his maiden in his second try at Santa Anita in December by more than four lengths. Betting strategy: Exacta key box: 4 with 1, 2, 7. Trifecta box: 1, 2, 4, 7.