A SLOWER weekend on the US scene with the Kentucky Derby contenders slowly emerging.
On the west coast, the Grade 3 mile Robert B. Lewis Stakes was won by the Magnier/Smith/Tabor-owned Plutarch, a son of Into Mischief trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Florent Geroux.
Baffert was winning the race for the 14th time and ran three, headed by favourite Desert Gate, but he drew the rail and missed the break.
Plutarch and Intrepido raced on the lead for much of the race and turned for home still battling each other and, while Intrepido tried to pass Plutarch, the Baffert colt refused to let him by.
It took Plutarch five tries to win his maiden last year including running on turf. Baffert said: “We put in so much time with this horse - he was so immature. He kind of reminds me of Authentic in a way, where he’s just slow developing, but he’s getting better every week. He’s got a great mind.”
Oaklawn Park
Mark Casse’s Silent Tactic was the most eye-catching winner, taking the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn by three and a quarter lengths.
Under Oaklawn rider Cristian Torres, Silent Tactic passed nine horses in the final furlong and a half to win going away from Soldier N Diplomat. Next up is the Rebel Stakes on March 1st, Casse said he also plans to run his other Derby contender Strategic Risk in that race. Strategic Risk was a good winner of the Smarty Jones, but lost his way late in the Southwest and finished 10th, beaten over 10 lengths.
Fillies
On the fillies’ side, there was a bit of a weekend surprise as, after finishing behind top fillies Super Corredora and Explora in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November, the lightly-raced Meaning turned the tables on the pair in the $100,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The daughter of Gun Runner, a $440,000 purchase by owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners/Bridlewood Farm, earned 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks for her length and a half victory over Explora.
Meaning came into the mile race off a three-month layoff, last seen finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies after a troubled trip. Prior to that effort, the Michael McCarthy trainee broke her maiden on debut at Los Alamitos.
“She’s a stronger filly, more mature,” McCarthy said afterwards. I gave her time after the Breeders’ Cup to kind of get her feet underneath her and prepare for something like this.”
Two Ballydoyle colts
in Kentucky entries
THERE were two Aidan O’Brien-trained colts among a total of 367 entries eligible to compete in the 2026 Triple Crown series after the early nomination phase, which closed on January 26th. Two Wootton Bassett colts, the Champagne Stakes and dual French Group 1 winner Puerto Rico, and the Goffs Million and Group 3 Killavullan Stakes winner Dorset have been given entries.
International representation also includes 37 horses from Japan, led by Godolphin’s Pyromancer.
The 2026 Triple Crown series begins with the 152nd running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby on May 2nd at Churchill Downs. The series continues with the $2 million Preakness Stakes on May 16th at Laurel Park, and concludes with the $2 million Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 6th. Pimlico and Belmont Park are under reconstruction.