Santa Anita Park press release
Lombo wins Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park
With Flavien Prat in the lead, there was a new Derby contender today at Santa Anita as longshot Lombo scored an impressive two-length win in the $150,000 Class III . Lombo, a Kentucky-bred colt by Graydar, is trained by Mike Pender and ran a mile and a sixteenth in 1:45.41. Lombo, who ran his first 3½-length winner over six furlongs here on January 20, made his fourth career start today and his first extra-money appearance.
“He ran a great race,” said Prat, who took over the horse when Kent Desromeaux decided to ride eventual runner-up Ayacara. “They put a bit of pressure on him at the back but he was nice and relaxed. I trained him last week and he has a lot of speed. I was worried he might want to leave, but he was relaxed. That was my main focus.” Worry, but he relaxed and then moved on.
Lombo lost 8-1 in a field of nine sophomores and paid $19.40, $10.40 and $7.20.
Lombo is owned by Michael V. Lombardi and was purchased last March for $75,000 from a 2-year-old in Ocala, Florida. Out of the Johannesburg mare Burg Berg, Lombo now has a record of 4-2-0-1. With the winning share of $90,000, Lombo increased his winnings to $129,225.
“He’s definitely a horse with high dynamics,” Pender said. “Apparently Graydar had some of the same characteristics and so did Unbridled's Song (Graydar's father). He's just a big boy and has a little attention deficit disorder, but he's starting to figure it out. If he does….I think he’ll be really dangerous.”
Along with the cash money, Lombo earned 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.
Ayacara came back early and fought for position very late under Kent Desormeaux, finishing 2 ¼ lengths ahead of longshot Dark Vadar.
At 9-2, Ayacara paid $6.00 and $4.40.
Dark Vadar, ridden by Stewart Elliott, showed a full throttle drive at the back turn to finish third, 3½ lengths ahead of Regulate. With a score of 36-1, Dark Vadar paid $13.60 for the appearance.
The disappointment in the Lewis race was the 2-1 favorite Peace, who still showed a blinkered attack but delivered a weak attempt and finished seventh under Mike Smith.
The fractions of the race were 23.40, 47.26, 1:12.20 and 1:38.34.
The second, third and fourth place finishers received four points, two points and one point respectively.
