Unbeaten Dortmund (Big Brown) kicks off his sophomore campaign against five rivals–including a very familiar face–in today's GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita.
A runaway debut winner at Santa Anita a day after the Breeders' Cup, the chestnut earned “TDN Rising Star” honors with a jaw-dropping optional claiming win going a one-turn mile on Churchill's Nov. 29 Stars of Tomorrow II card, earning himself 9-1 favoritism in the first round of GI Kentucky Derby Future Wagers. The Kaleem Shah colorbearer was along in time to post a thrilling head tally over Firing Line (Line of David) as the 3-5 favorite while making his two-turn bow in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity last time Dec. 20. Dortmund has posted five workouts at Santa Anita since, including a six-furlong bullet in 1:12 1/5 (1/28) Jan. 14 and a four-furlong move in :47 3/5 (3/28) Feb. 3.
Firing Line makes his first start since that thriller at Los Al as well. Owned by Arnold Zetcher, the Nov. 30 Del Mar maiden winner was also making his route debut that day. He stayed on gamely after dueling through testing early fractions of :21 4/5 and :45 1/5 and also exchanged bumps with third-place finisher Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) in the stretch. Hall of Famer Gary Stevens rides for the first time here. “He ran very well,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “He got bumped quite a bit down the lane, but he's doing well and we're looking forward to the race.”
Rock Shandy (Lemon Drop Kid) proved he belonged with these with a clear-cut second behind the ultra-impressive Calculator (In Summation) in the GIII Sham S. Jan. 10. He made his three prior starts on grass, including a third-place finish in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. at Del Mar Nov. 30. Peter Miller trains for Donegal Racing.
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