—Feb 3— Just two weeks after finishing a distance third to Bolt d’Oro in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields, trainer Peter Eurton shipped his star sophomore a few miles south to compete in the Grade III $151,380 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California. And compete he did! Sent to post the 8/5 favorite, Core Beliefs made an improbable late rally to pass a wall of horses and win by a length.

The Robert B. Lewis drew a uniquely competitive and evenly matched field, as attested to by the fact that every horse finished within three lengths of the winner. Axelrod finished second, just three-parts of a length in front of Bob Baffert’s Once On Whiskey, who finished second in the California Derby (a length in front of Core Beliefs) in his previous start.

Finishing fourth was Lombo, who entered the race following a last-place finish to McKinizie in the Grade III Sham Stakes in early January.

Peace and Shivermetimbers finished fifth and last, respectively.

—Feb 3— The nation’s top sprinter made his 2018 debut in the $196,000 Grade II Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita Park and didn’t disappoint, opening a 4-length lead entering the stretch before coasting to a one-and-three-quarters length win. After the race, his trainer, Peter Miller, was ecstatic.

“Great ride,” he gushed, referring to jockey Kent Desormeaux’s handling of the horse. “Just what I wanted him to do.”

“We thought about taking it to them, felt he was the best horse, but decided it’s his first start of the year,“ he continued.

Roy H was the heavy favorite and paid just $2.40. Bobby Abu Dhabi finished second as the 7/2 second choice and was followed by a quartet of longshots: B Squared, Richard’s Boy, Brandothebartender and Red Lightning.

Miller said Roy H would likely make his next start in five weeks in the Grade I Triple Bend at Santa Anita.