An evenly matched field of five sophomores will line up for Saturday's GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita.
Sheer Flattery (Flatter) overcame a wide trip and graduated by a nose at fourth asking while making his two-turn debut in the Santa Anita slop Dec. 31, good for a field-best 83 Beyer Speed Figure. Mike Smith rides the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer.
The rail-drawn Royal Mo (Uncle Mo) comes in fresh off a sharp wire-to-wire tally in his route debut at third asking at Del Mar Nov. 27. He completed the exacta in his two prior attempts. “Royal Mo is coming into the race good, very nice,” said John Shirreffs, who also conditions GISW Gormley (Malibu Moon) for the Mosses. “I don't have any particular strategy. I think Victor [Espinoza] will determine that.”
Trainer Doug O'Neill has three signed on, including the distant GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity S. second and third-place finishers Irap (Tiznow) and Dangerfield (Into Mischief). He also saddles Term of Art (Tiznow), who followed a win in the off-the-turf GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. Nov. 27 with a well-beaten fifth in the slop in the GIII Sham S. Jan. 7.
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