Robert B. Lewis Stakes

The Robert B. Lewis Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses at the distance of one mile on the dirt held annually in late January or early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

History
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 died in 2006.

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

Until 1964, the race was open to horses three years of age and older with the exception of 1940.

The race has been run at a variety of distances:
 * 1935, 2024 to present : 1 mile
 * 1937-1938, 1941, 1945-1946, 1953, 1964-1969, 1971-2010, 2012-2023 : $1 1/16$ miles
 * 1939, 1947-1952, 1954-1963, 2011 : $1 1/8$ miles
 * 1940 : 3 furlongs (for 2-year-olds)
 * 1970 : 7 furlongs

The Robert B. Lewis Stakes is one of the key prep races leading to the Santa Anita Derby each year and is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Records
Time record: (at the previous distance of $1 1/16$ miles)
 * 1:40.76 - Crown of Thorns (2008)

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)
 * 7 - Laffit Pincay Jr. (1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1985, 1989)

Most wins by a trainer:
 * 12 - Bob Baffert (1999, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Winners

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