Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist - January 30

Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist

Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021

By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $100,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), Santa Anita Park – Race 7

The Robert B. Lewis drew a field of eight 3-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby trail who have quality stakes racing experience. (4) Hot Rod Charlie was a bit slow to develop as a 2-year-old for trainer Doug O’Neill, who won the Kentucky Derby twice. He debuted in July, then raced on the grass twice at Del Mar, and broke his maiden when he moved back to the at Santa Anita against a field that included Parnelli. O’Neill liked what he saw and put him in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) where at odds of 94-1 he finished second beaten by less than a length. Expect further improvement in Hot Rod Charlie’s 2021 debut. (1) Medina Spirit is likely to be the favorite in the race based on his second-place finish in the Sham (G3) behind one of the top 3-year-olds and stablemate Life is Good. Those two were far ahead the rest of that field earlier in the month. (7) Wipe the Slate ran second in his debut behind Life is Good and then came back to break his maiden going seven-furlongs at Santa Anita by more than three lengths. The son of Nyquist reunites the Kentucky Derby winning connections of that sire -- O’Neill, Reddam Racing, and jockey Mario Gutierrez. (8) Speilberg has already run six times, which is a lot for a Baffert runner at this point in his career. He won the Los Al Futurity (G2) in his last start after a stretch battle against the talented The Great One. Betting strategy: 4 to win, place. Exacta key box: 4 with 1, 7, 8. Trifecta part-wheel: 4 with 1, 7, 8 with ALL.