Tipsheet: 2026 Robert B. Lewis
Desert Gate wins the Best Pal Stakes. (Photo by horsephotos.com)
February 5th, 2026
A talented cast of seven sophomores will run one mile on the main course at Santa Anita in Saturday’s $100,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3). The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the top five across the line with qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis.
Robert B. Lewis Picks
- #1 Desert Gate
- #4 Intrepido
- #3 Cherokee Nation
Robert B Lewis Wagers
Robert B. Lewis Contenders
#1 DESERT GATE (6-5): One to likely catch and beat gets the rail for his seasonal debut and looms large for Baffert, who is well represented with three in the field. The Grade-3 winning son of Omaha Beach won his first two races as a juvenile and concluded 2025 with good seconds in both the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and American Pharoah (G1). He will be sent from the break with regular pilot Hernandez in the silks.
#2 PLUTARCH (4-1): Well-bred colt has run well in each lifetime run to date, which includes a close third in the American Pharoah in his lone previous run on the oval. The Baffert pupil was a dominant maiden winner on the grass in his juvenile finale and has fired a pair of recent bullet morning drills locally in advance of his seasonal bow. Florent Geroux picks up the mount.
#3 CHEROKEE NATION (5-1): Sneaky contender was a rallying second in a swiftly contested maiden run on the surface last time and has exotics appeal against this cast. The seven-figure son of Not This Time owns a pair of close runner-up finishes from two lifetime races on the strip and will have Antonio Fresu in the silks.
🏆 TWINSPIRES TOUR UPDATE 🏆
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 5, 2026
We are through January, but there are still 3 months left in the TwinSpires Tour!
Your top 40 scores count towards the overall leaderboard and your top 8 scores count towards the Session 4 leaderboard, so there is still plenty of time left to make… pic.twitter.com/jq2pVuYSEH
#4 INTREPIDO (7-2): American Pharoah victor was a non-factor in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in his latest appearance and landed in a nice spot to kick off his three-year-old season. The Maximus Mischief colt earned his biggest win to date in his local local outing to date, and the $385,000 purchase should be fit and ready against this group with Hector Berrios retaining the ride.
#5 BRIGGS ARMYPOWER (30-1): Army Mule colt is a clear outsider in the field and looks overmatched in his route debut in this spot.
#6 ROBUSTA (15-1): Accelerate colt was a fine maiden winner off the layoff in his second assignment and wouldn’t be a total shock at a big price in the field. The Doug O’Neill trainee showed gate presence and a game-closing run in his victory, and improvement will have him in the running late. The Calumet homebred will have Emisael Jaramillo in the irons.
#7 SECURED FREEDOM (6-1): Practical Joke colt from the Yakteen shedrow was powerful in his sprint maiden tally most recently and has posted four strong morning moves in the interim. The good prospect is bred to get eight panels, and the $110,000 yearling purchase could be any kind with the added ground in his initial stakes venture. Kaz Kimura will take the reins.
