Thousand Words continues on Derby Trail with Bob Lewis S. (G3) win

Thousand Words wins the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), giving trainer Bob Baffert his 3,000th win | Benoit photo

Thousand Words had a few anxious seconds at the top of the Santa Anita stretch, but the 3-year-old colt found an opening and willed his way to a three-quarter length win in Saturday’s Robert B. Lewis S. (G3).

Thousand Words, owned by Albaugh Family Stable and Spendthrift Farm, picked up another 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) challenge, and now has a total of 20.

Though the major Triple Crown preps don’t begin until March, Thousand Words has positioned himself as a serious contender with Saturday’s win and his victory in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). The Lewis win didn’t come easy. Thousand Words was boxed in behind the leaders most of the way until he found and opening in upper stretch, when he split horses then outran Royal Act to finish the 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.64.

“Being stuck down inside he got the worst of it,” said the colt’s trainer Bob Baffert. “Usually a young horse like that they don’t run that well and they don’t respond. He’s got that big long stride and the further the better with him. You could tell about the last 50 yards he was really getting going. He came back he wasn’t even tired so that is a good sign. He is progressing with every race and to win three in a row like that it is pretty impressive.”

Thousand Words is undefeated in three starts and has earned $211,000. A son of the late Pioneerof the Nile out of multiple graded winner Pomeroys Pistol, he was bred by Hardacre Farm.