By Jill Williams
Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael B. Tabor's Plutarch (c, 3, Into Mischief–Stellar Wind, by Curlin) was bred to be a star–he is out of 2015's champion 3-year-old filly turned $6-million Keeneland-topping mare Stellar Wind–and he made good on that promise Saturday in the $101,000 GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. The race was worth 20-10-6-4-2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won his eighth consecutive Bob Lewis and 14th overall, going back to 1999. In 2007, the race, which was formerly known as the Santa Catalina Stakes, was renamed in honor of one of Baffert's biggest early clients, Robert B. Lewis, for whom Baffert won his first GI Kentucky Derby in 1997 with Silver Charm. One of Baffert's winners, Mor Spirit (Eskendereya), won the 2016 edition and hails from the same extended female family as Plutarch.
A homebred for Coolmore connections and presumably named after a character in the Hunger Games franchise, Plutarch bounced out of the Bob Lewis stalls nicely and put himself right in the early fray. Just two heads off the :23.49 first quarter set by 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' and GI American Pharoah Stakes winner Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), he stayed glued to that rival and got his own head in front as the timer recorded a :47.65 half. The two continued to battle on the turn, with Plutarch going the better of the two and dispensing of his rival in the lane despite Intrepido fighting back gamely. Ears pricked while digging in, Plutarch bested Intrepido by three-quarters of length while maiden winner Secured Freedom (Practical Joke) got up for third. Baffert's favored Desert Gate (Omaha Beach) finished fourth. Plutarch got the mile in 1:37.02.
“When I asked him to move along the lane he responded really well,” said winning rider Florent Geroux. “He waited for the horse on the inside a little bit, but as soon as he came by me, my horse gave me another gear. It was nice.”
Referencing his recent move to California, Geroux continued: “When I came here that was what I was expecting, to be honest, to find a Derby horse. Bob is an amazing trainer, and he has won the Derby six times, so the record book speaks for itself. To have the opportunity to ride for him is just a big honor.”
Plutarch, second from right, duels to the wire | Benoit
After a 2-year-old campaign which netted placings in the American Pharoah and the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes, the latter on the grass, Plutarch broke his maiden decisively by 4 1/2 lengths in his last out, a Del Mar maiden special weight on the lawn Nov. 30 at Del Mar. Also placed in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes on the grass, Plutarch had made two previous attempts on dirt and was beaten by Intrepido both times. Regardless of surface, Plutarch has never finished off the board. With his American Pharoah placing, Plutarch now has 23 Derby points.
“Plutarch is getting better,” said Baffert. “I'm so happy for Coolmore, who has supported me for all those years. We've spent so much time with Plutarch.
“This horse reminds me of [Baffert's 2020 Derby winner] Authentic. He keeps getting better every week. I don't think distance will be a problem with him. This is very exciting. He's legit.”
Pedigree Notes:
Sons of Spendthrift's Into Mischief won both of the Kentucky Derby points races Saturday, with Plutarch taking home 20 points in the Bob Lewis and Renegade also getting 20 in Tampa Bay's Sam F. Davis Stakes. America's reigning seven-time leading sire has three stakes winners thus far in 2026–all 3-year-old colts, including Mucho Macho Man winner Commandment–as well as 190 career black-type winners and 93 graded winners.
Two of Into Mischief's sons, Maximus Mischief and Practical Joke, completed the Bob Lewis trifecta with their own sons.
Bred by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt, Plutarch is the fifth foal out of champion Stellar Wind. The topper at the 2017 Keeneland November sale when she was bought by M. V. Magnier, Stellar Wind also has a 2-year-old filly by Gun Runner, who was sent to Japan in 2025, and was bred to Justify for 2026. Stellar Wind's six Grade I scores included the Apple Blossom Handicap, the Beholder Mile, and the Santa Anita Oaks. Broodmare sire Curlin, who stands at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, now has 47 stakes winners out of his daughters.
A determined #2 PLUTARCH ($10.20) puts himself on the Kentucky Derby 🌹 leaderboard with a win in the $100,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at @SantaAnitaPark. This colt is by Into Mischief (@SpendthriftFarm) out of the champion mare Stellar Wind. @flothejock up for Bob Baffert. pic.twitter.com/KRBcx1medt
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 8, 2026
Saturday, Santa Anita
ROBERT B. LEWIS S.-GIII, $101,000, Santa Anita, 2-7, 3yo, 1m, 1:37.02, ft.
1–PLUTARCH, 120, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Stellar Wind (Ch. 3-year-old Filly, MGISW, $2,903,200), by Curlin
2nd Dam: Evening Star, by Malibu Moon
3rd Dam: Sequins, by Northern Fashion
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Florent Geroux. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 6-2-2-2, $192,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Intrepido, 124, r, 3, Maximus Mischief–Overly Indulgent, by Pleasantly Perfect. 'TDN Rising Star, by Hagyard'. ($30,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $385,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-Dutch Girl Holdings LLC and Irving Ventures LLC; B-Sierra Fria Farm LLC (KY); T-Jeff Mullins. $20,000.
3–Secured Freedom, 120, c, 3, Practical Joke–Securely, by Uncle Mo. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($110,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Leslie A. And Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr. and Roger K. Beasley; B-Audley Farm Equine, LLC (VA); T-Tim Yakteen. $12,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3 1/4, NO. Odds: 4.10, 4.10, 3.20.
Also Ran: Desert Gate, Cherokee Nation, Robusta, Briggs Armypower. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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