LONGSHOT LOMBO STRETCHES OUT TO WIN GRADE II, $150,000 ROBERT B. LEWIS STAKES

By Mike Willman —-

LOMBO
Zoe Metz Photography

LONGSHOT LOMBO STRETCHES OUT TO WIN GRADE II, $150,000 ROBERT B. LEWIS STAKES BY TWO LENGTHS UNDER PRAT; TRAINED BY PENDER, HE GETS 1 1/16 MLES IN 1:45.41

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2018)—With Flavien Prat calling the signals on the lead, a new Derby contender emerged today at Santa Anita as longshot Lombo scored an impressive two length victory in the Grade III, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. A Kentucky-bred colt by Graydar, Lombo is trained by Mike Pender and he got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:45.41.

A 3 ½ length maiden winner going six furlongs here on Jan. 20, Lombo was making his fourth career start today and his first added money appearance.

“He ran a big race,” said Prat, who picked up the mount when Kent Desromeaux opted to ride eventual runner-up Ayacara. “They put a little pressure on him down the backside, but he was nice and relaxed. I worked him last week and he’s got a lot of speed. I was concerned he might want to go, but he was relaxed. That was my main concern, but he releaxed and then he went on.”

Off at 8-1 in a field of nine sophomores, Lombo paid $19.40, $10.40 and $7.20.

Owned by Michael V. Lombardi, Lombo was purchased for $75,000 at an Ocala, Fla. 2-year-old in training sale this past March. Out of the Johannesburg mare Burg Berg, Lombo is now 4-2-0-1. With the winner’s share of $90,000, Lombo increased his earnings to $129,225.

“He’s definitely a high octane horse,” said Pender. “Apparently, Graydar had some of the same characteristics and Unbridled’s Song (Graydar’s sire) as well He’s just a big kid and has a little (Attention Deficit Disorder) to him, but he’s starting to figure it out. When he does…I think he’ll be really dangerous.”

Along with the purse money, Lombo picked up 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
Well back early, Ayacara ran on very well late for the place under Kent Desormeaux, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of longshot Dark Vadar.

Off at 9-2, Ayacara paid $6.00 and $4.40.

Ridden by Stewart Elliott, Dark Vadar was in an all-out drive around the far turn and finished third, 3 ½ lengths in front of Regulate Off at 36-1, Dark Vadar paid $13.60 to show.

The disappointment in the Lewis was 2-1 favorite Peace, who added blinker but turned in a dull effort, finishing seventh under Mike Smith.

Fractions on the race were 23.40, 47.26, 1:12.20 and 1:38.34.

The second, third and fourth place finishers received four points, two points and one point, respectively.

ROBERT B. LEWIS STAKES QUOTES
GRADE III, $150,000

FLAVIEN PRAT, LOMBO, WINNER: “He ran a big race. They put a little pressure on him down the backside, but he was nice and relaxed. I worked him last week and he’s got a lot of speed was concerned he might want to go, but he was relaxed. That was my main concern, but he relaxed and then he went on.”

KENT DESORMEAUX, AYACARA, SECOND: “I love the way my horse finished. I had my choice between the winner and this horse, so I guess I picked the wrong one! Seriously, my horse is improving and he’ll getter better as we go longer.”

MIKE SMITH, PEACE, FIFTH: “He stopped on me the whole race! I thought the blinkers would wake him up but it backfired on us big time. I feel bad because it was my idea.
“He has so much hang in him and he just doesn’t want to pass that last horse. I know he has so much ability in him though, so I thought, let’s just put a set of blinkers on him to make him concentrate. And he did, in the morning. He’s been really aggressive in the right way since we put them on. I thought he’d pull me right up there with them today, but every chance he got, he tried to pull up.
“I mean he felt great, wasn’t even blowing at the end. I’m the only tired one; I was ridin’.”

TRAINER QUOTES

MIKE PENDER, LOMBO, WINNER: “He’s definitely a high octane horse. Apparently, Graydar (his sire) had some of the same characteristics and Unbridled’s Song (Graydar’s sire) as well. He’s just a big kid and got a little ADD to him but he’s starting to figure it out. When he does really figure it out, I think he’ll be really dangerous.
“We’ve been training since November to get two turns. I knew he had intense gate speed . . . I knew he was going to break right on the muscle today and take them as far as he could.”
Next race? “Santa Anita’s home, we’re going to do what’s in this horse’s best interest, run him out of his stall for Mr. Stronach and the Santa Anita fans is something I always plan on first and foremost.”

NOTES: The winning owner is Michael Lombardi.

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