Robert B. Lewis Stakes

Horseraces infobox
class = Grade II
horse race = Robert B. Lewis Stakes


caption =
location = Santa Anita Park
Arcadia, California flagicon|USA
inaugurated = 1935
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://www.santaanita.com www.santaanita.com]
distance = 11/16 miles (8.5 furlongs)
track = Dirt, left-handed
qualification = Three-Year-Olds
weight = Assigned
purse = $200,000
bonuses = The Robert B. Lewis Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Raced over a distance of 11/16 miles on dirt, the Grade II race is open to three-year-old horses. Until 1964, the race was open to horses three years of age and older with the exception of 1940.

Inaugurated as the Santa Catalina Handicap in 1935, there was no race in 1936. Upon its return in 1937, it was run as the Santa Catalina California-Bred Championship Stakes until 1940 when it was renamed the Santa Catalina Nursery Stakes and was a three-furlong race for two-year-olds. In 1941 it reverted to its original name, the Santa Catalina Handicap and remained as that until 1964 when it became the Santa Catalina Stakes. In 2007, the race was renamed again in order to honor the prominent racehorse owner Robert B. Lewis who had passed away in 2006.

Due to restrictions and consoldations during World War II, there was no race held from 1942 through 1944.

The race has been run at a variety of distances:
* 1935 : 1 mile
* 1937-1938, 1941, 1945-1946, 1953, 1964-1969, 1971-present : 11/16 miles
* 1939, 1947-1952, 1954-1963 : 1⅛ miles
* 1940 : 3 furlongs (for 2-year-olds)
* 1970 : 7 furlongs

Records

Time record: (at the current distance of 11/16 miles)
* 1:41.40 - Stancharry (1981)

Most wins by an owner:
* 3 - Elmendorf Farm (1977, 1980, 1982)

Most wins by a jockey:
* 7 - Bill Shoemaker (1962, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1986, 1988)

Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 - Charles Whittingham (1964, 1970, 1986, 1988)
* 4 - Ron McAnally (1976, 1980, 1982, 1997)

Winners of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes

*Run in two divisions in 1980. In 1981, Minnesota Chief won the race in record time but was disqualified and set back to second.

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?query_type=stakes&search_bar=stakes&field=view&id=106 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Pedigree Query]