2012 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Continues California's Triple Crown Trail

The Southern California trail to the Triple Crown is typically a fertile one. Numerous winners of Triple Crown races have prepped in the Golden State, so watching races such as the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 4 is a must watch. Worth $200,000 in 2012, the 1 1/16-mile Robert B. Lewis Stakes provides the latest steppingstone of California's 2012 Kentucky Derby contenders. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, is planning to send out a pair of runners. Liaison, winner of the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity in December, and promising Allowance winner Sky Kingdom are both on track to compete. Also expected to run in the Robert B. Lewis is Rousing Sermon, who was beaten just a neck by Liaison in the CashCall Futurity despite a wide trip. The Robert B. Lewis dates back to 1964, when it was known as the Santa Catalina Stakes. Prior to that, the race was open to older horses and was known as the Santa Catalina Handicap. The name of the race was changed a final time in 2007 to the Robert B. Lewis in honor of the late California owner-breeder. Lewis' Golden Eagle Farm campaigned no fewer than six Eclipse Award winners, which include such champions as Silver Charm and Charismatic. Notable winners of the Robert B. Lewis include Declan's Moon (2005), the champion 2-year-old of 2004; and Ferdinand, who won the 1986 Robert B. Lewis and went on to win the Kentucky Derby. Sham, winner of the 1973 contest, is best remembered for being runner-up to the legendary Secretariat in that year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker has the most Santa Catalina Robert B. Lewis Stakes wins among riders with seven. His wins were spread between 1962 and 1988 and included Ferdinand in 1986. Hall of Famers Charlie Whittingham and Ron McAnally have the most Santa Catalina/Robert. B. Lewis wins among trainers with four each. Two of Whittingham's wins came with Shoemaker in the irons, including Ferdinand. McAnally, who is still active on the Southern California circuit, won his last Santa Catalina/Robert B. Lewis Stakes in 1988 with Lively One, who also had Shoemaker in the saddle.