Zedan Racing Stables Inc.’s Medina Spirit went straight to the lead in Saturday’s $100,500 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, turned for home in front, was challenged by a pair of rivals in the final furlong, but refused to yield and was best by a neck at the wire. It’s the first stakes win for the 3-year-old Florida-bred colt by Protonico, now 3-2-1-0 with earnings of $105,200 for trainer Bob Baffert. A two-time OBS graduate, he was sold by Summerfield at the 2019 Winter Mixed Sale. He was then purchased for $35,000 by Gary Young on behalf of Zedan Racing Stables out of the Whitman Sales consignment at the 2020 June Sale after turning in an Under Tack three eighths in :33 flat. watch his under tack video
Medina Spirit is the fifth OBS graduate to win the Robert B. Lewis (G3), joining Mucho Gusto (March ’18), Lombo (March ’17), I’ll Have Another (April ’11) and Crown of Thorns (March ’07).
Michael Dubb, Steven Bouchey, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Chester A. Bishop’s Chess’s Dream saved ground off the pace in the early going of Gulfstream’s $100,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes (G3), slipped through on the rail to join the leaders, took command leaving the furlong marker and scored by two lengths. Fellow OBS graduate Original (April ’20) settled for third. It’s the first stakes victory for the 3-year-old Florida-bred colt by Jess’s Dream, purchased for $20,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2019 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. Trained by Mike Maker, he’s now 5-2-2-0 and has earned $108,980 to date.