MedinaSpirit_RobertLewis_G3.qxp_Florida Horse_template 2/26/21 10:53 AM Page 18
By BROCK SHERIDAN
F
lorida-bred Medina Spirit held off stretch long challenges from Roman Centurian and Hot Rod Charlie to win the $100,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (Grade 3) at Santa Anita Jan. 30 and become a primary contender for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) to be run at Churchill Downs on May 1. Medina Spirit earned 10 qualifying points for the Derby with the victory and increased his total to 14 to rank fourth on the leaderboard for the Run for the Roses as of Feb. 1. The top 18 point earners will earn a spot in the starting gate for the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby with one invitation extended to the top point earner in the Europe Road to the Derby and one invitation extended to the top point earner in the Japan Road to the Derby. The Kentucky Derby field has been limited to 20 starters since 1975.
Sent to the post as the even money favorite among the six 3year-olds in the mile-and-one-sixteenth Robert B. Lewis, Medina Spirit, who is trained by six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert, went right to the front from post one with jockey Abel Cedillo aboard. Medina Spirit had a length lead on 8-1 choice Wipe the Slate and 15-1 longshot Parnelli together in second around the club-
Florida-bred Medina Spirit Becomes Top Kentucky Derby Contender with Robert B. Lewis Score
18 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2021
house turn before completing the first two furlongs in :22.89. They were followed by 5-2 second choice Hot Rod Charlie, who was four lengths farther back in fourth with stablemate Spielberg and Roman Centurian an additional three lengths behind. Medina Spirit kept a comfortable one-length lead down the back-
