Pioneerof the Nile rallies to win Robert Lewis (G2)

Sunday | February 08, 2009

The Bob Baffert-trained Pioneerof the Nile asserted himself as one of the top 3-year-olds in the country by rallying to an impressive victory in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) on Feb. 7th at Santa Anita.



For the improving Empire Maker colt, the Lewis was his seasonal debut and second graded stakes win in as many starts in California since moving to the Baffert barn. He closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a win in the CashCall Futurity (G1) in December.



Under jockey Garrett Gomez, Pioneerof the Nile settled well back in the early stages of the 1 1/16-mile Lewis before commencing a strong wide rally to prove best in the stretch. With a late rush inside the sixteenth pole, Pioneerof the Nile won by a half-length, stopping the clock in 1:41 4/5 over the local synthetic track.



“Today, he ran the way we wanted to see him run. That’s his style. We wanted to take him back. That’s the way he wants to run,” Baffert said. “He’s matured. We know his style now, we know he’s a good horse, and he beat some nice horses. We’re excited to be in this spot.”



A Zayat Stables homebred, Pioneerof the Nile notched is third win from six starts and moved his career earnings to $664,200 for owner Ahmed Zayat.



For Baffert, Pioneerof the Nile’s most recent win was special in more ways than one. It was his third win in the prestigious stakes event, and first since it was renamed the Robert B. Lewis in 2007. Lewis, along with his widow Beverly, teamed up with Baffert to win the 1997 Kentucky Derby with the legendary Silver Charm, among others.



Pioneerof the Nile will remain in California on the trail to the Kentucky Derby, and will be pointed to the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby on April 4th.



“I think I’m going to leave him (at Santa Anita) because he likes it here and he trains well here. If he likes the dirt, he’ll like the dirt. I think he’s going to like it, the way he moves over it, and the way he ran at Hollywood. That’s more of a dirt course, anyway. A really good horse can run on both.



“This is what you want. A good horse will overcome things. He’s learning how to run. I just have to keep him happy and healthy.”

View All News