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Desert Gate Leads 2026 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Favorites

2/7/2026

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Summary

Desert Gate Favored

The 2026 Robert B. Lewis Stakes will be run February 7 at Santa Anita Park, California, with a 7:05 p.m. ET post time and 40 Kentucky Derby points.
Desert Gate is the 6-5 favorite, followed by Intrepido at 7-2, Plutarch at 4-1, and Cherokee Nation at 5-1.
Plutarch has finished in the top three in all his races and is a strong contender, per expert Michelle Yu.

Summary

Withers Stakes Preview

The Withers Stakes, a Kentucky Derby prep race, will be run on February 7 at Aqueduct in New York with a post time of 4:20 PM ET.
The race covers 1 1/8 miles.
The race offers 20 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.
Notable contenders include Ottinho, trained by Chad Brown, and Mailata, who has shown promise in previous stakes.
Talk To Me Jimmy is highlighted as a potential surprise winner.

History

Historical Context

The Kentucky Derby, first held in 1875, evolved significantly with the introduction of a points system in 1937 to qualify horses, impacting training and breeding strategies. This system remains vital today, as seen in races like the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. The Derby's prestige continues, with a purse of $3 million offered in 2019, highlighting its importance in American horse racing.

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Desert Gate Favored

The 2026 Robert B. Lewis Stakes will be run February 7 at Santa Anita Park, California, with a 7:05 p.m. ET post time and 40 Kentucky Derby points.
Desert Gate is the 6-5 favorite, followed by Intrepido at 7-2, Plutarch at 4-1, and Cherokee Nation at 5-1.
Plutarch has finished in the top three in all his races and is a strong contender, per expert Michelle Yu.

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