Focus_4PageVersionMarch2020.qxp_Layout 1 2/26/20 9:59 AM Page 8
Florida FOCUS
by Brock Sheridan
BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO
Thousand Words Wins Robert B. Lewis to Give Baffert 3,000 Wins Florida-bred Thousand Words remained undefeated in three tries and added to his Road to the Kentucky Derby point total with an enduring victory in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Florida-bred Thousand Words Anita on Feb. 1. The victory against five other 3-year-olds going a mileand-one-sixteenth for a purse of $100,500 also gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert 3,000 career wins in North America. Ridden by Flavien Prat from post two, Thousand Words broke evenly and went into the clubhouse turn behind stablemate High Velocity and fellow Florida-bred Zimba Warrior before settling into a comfortable position in fourth as the field sorted themselves for the run down the backstretch. Bob Hope Stakes (G3)-winner High Velocity clicked off a first quarter-mile fraction in an honest :23.65 while leading recent maiden-winner Tizamagician and 18-1 choice Royal Act by three-quarters of a length with Thousand Words tucked along the rail in fourth. They raced in that order through a half-mile in :47.20 and around the far turn where Prat began looking for racing room for Thousand Words, who was still on the inside. High Velocity and Tizamagician turned for home together as Thousand Words pushed through a narrow opening between those two to launch his assault. High Velocity hastened to a length-and-a-half advantage at the top of the stretch, however, Thousand Words began to wear down his rival with each stride as Tizamagician could not keep pace. Thousand Words took the lead inside the final sixteenth when Royal Act made a big late run on the far outside. But the rally was to no avail as Thousand Words won by three-quarters of a length ahead of Royal Act in second in a time of 1:43.64 over the fast track. High Velocity held on for third, just a neck behind Royal Act as Tizamagician, Encoder and Zimba Warrior completed the order of finish. In addition to the winner’s share of $60,000 first prize, Thousand Words earned 10 points towards earning a spot in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve which will be run May 2 at Churchill Downs. Royal Act earned four Derby points while High Velocity and Tizamagician picked up two and one points respectively. “[Thousand Words] ran very well,” Prat said. “He put me in a good spot and he was comfortable down there. He took the dirt [in his face] well and when I asked him to run, he really accelerated.” Baffert, however, said he was more concerned about Thousand Words’ lack of racing room coming out of the far turn. “Being stuck down on the inside, he got the worst of it,” said Baffert, who also collected his record eighth Lewis win. “Usually, a young horse like that, they won’t run that well and they don’t respond. But he’s got that 8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2020
