Plutarch is still a work in progress, but the royally-bred colt took a huge step forward on Feb. 7 by winning the one-mile Grade 3 $100,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on the dirt at Santa Anita Park. Plutarch bested runner-up Intrepido by three-quarters of a length.

Trainer Bob Baffert entered three in the Lewis, a race he has won a record 14 times including eight consecutive years.

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When Plutarch needed time to mature last year, Baffert and his staff continued to work with him. He has taken an unusual route for a potential Triple Crown candidate. Baffert ran him on the turf last year, "just to get some races into him."

"We put in so much time with this horse, he was so immature," Baffert said. "He kind of reminds me of Authentic in a way, where he's just slow developing, but he's getting better every week. He's got a great mind. He'll figure it out."

Secured Freedom, a recent impressive maiden winner for trainer Tim Yakteen and the 3-1 second choice on the tote board, recovered from a slow start to come flying late, nosing out Desert Gate for third.

Desert Gate, who had the best credentials of the Baffert trio, went off as the 6-5 favorite but missed the break from the rail and finished fourth, a nose behind Secured Freedom.

"He's just so one-dimensional, and he's got to have the lead," Baffert said of Desert Gate. "When he missed the break, I knew there was no chance after that."

Intrepido, winner of last fall's Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes presented by DK Horse over Desert Gate and Plutarch, set the first fraction of :23.49 for the opening quarter mile, but Plutarch surged forward to take over and was responsible for the other fractions, including a half-mile time in :47.65.

"I felt he broke very alertly for me and put me in a great spot," jockey Florent Geroux said. "When I asked him to move along the lane, he responded really well."

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Both Plutarch and Intrepido gamely stuck to their tasks. They turned for home still battling each other, and while Intrepido tried to pass Plutarch, the Baffert colt refused to let him by. Plutarch edged farther away and stopped the timer in 1:37.02.

The Lewis offered eligibility points to the May 2 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. Plutarch earned 20 points to add to the three he had earned when third in the American Pharoah. Intrepido added 10 points to his previously earned 13 points, while Secured Freedom earned six points and Desert Gate added five to the four he received in the American Pharoah. Cherokee Nation, Baffert's third entrant and still a maiden, finished fifth, earning two points.

It took Plutarch five tries to earn his maiden last year, though he always showed promise, running second in the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes, third in the American Pharoah, and third in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes. After those three stakes placings, Plutarch went off as an even-money favorite in a Nov. 30 maiden event on the turf at Del Mar and finally posted that initial victory by an emphatic 4 1/2 lengths.

Baffert had tried a litany of top jockeys on Plutarch, and for the Lewis he turned to Geroux.

"I called Flo the other day. He was thinking about coming out here," Baffert said. "I told him, 'Come out here. I've got one I can put you on. I think he's a really good colt.' I've had a lot of luck with Flo. We've done well in Kentucky. He's sharp. He's a top rider."

"When I came here, that was what I was expecting, to be honest, to find a Derby horse," Geroux added. Bob is an amazing trainer, and he has won the Derby six times. So the record book speaks for itself. To have the opportunity to ride for him is just a big honor."