Mucho Gusto draws off in Robert Lewis S. (G3)

Mucho Gusto set off the pace before taking the lead with a quarter-mile to run and drew off in the stretch to win the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) by nearly five lengths over the sloppy going at Santa Anita Park.

The victory was Baffert’s seventh in the race, which was named after the owner of Baffert’s 1997 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) winner Silver Charm.

Ridden expertly by Joe Talamo, Mucho Gusto cruised easily over the off going, coming up along side Magnificent McCool on the far turn, then after a brief tussle, pulled away powerfully to win in hand in 1:41.81 for the 1 1/16-miles.

“He got to sit off the pace, which was good. They have to learn to do that,” Baffert said. “I was really happy with Joe. He rode him with a lot of confidence, like he was a good horse.” 

Owned by Michael Petersen, Mucho Gusto won last year’s Bob Hope S. (G3) at Del Mar and was second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1). He has won three of four starts overall and earned $234,000.

Mucho Gusto’s win earned him 10 points, bringing his total to 14, on the Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge.