'He's legit' - Plutarch enters Kentucky Derby picture with victory for illustrious dam Stellar Wind

Click here to add us to your Google preferred sources or find out more here

Plutarch stepped forward out of Bob Baffert's Kentucky Derby possibles with a first major win in the Grade 3 Robert B Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

A son of multiple champion sire Into Mischief, the colt is also bred out of a true champion in Stellar Wind, whose large collection of Grade 1s included the Clement L Hirsch Stakes on two occasions and some mighty clashes with Beholder.

Stellar Wind represented trainer John Sadler and Hronis Racing for the majority of her career before being knocked down to MV Magnier for $6,000,000 at Keeneland in 2017. She has been covered by some grand sires, including Galileo and Justify, but had produced little of note for the Coolmore-affiliated partnership of Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt until Plutarch came along.

It took him five goes to get a win in the bank, albeit he was campaigned at a high level and finished third in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes. Having got off the mark in a maiden at Del Mar, he showed plenty of grit under Florent Geroux to beat Intrepido by three-quarters of a length. 

"Plutarch is getting better," said Baffert, who compared him to one of his illustrious Derby winners.

"I’m so happy for Coolmore, who have supported me for all these years. We’ve spent so much time with Plutarch. He reminds me of Authentic. He keeps getting better every week. I don’t think distance will be a problem with him. This is very exciting. He’s legit."

Bafffert changed jockeys on Plutarch, using Geroux for the first time. The trainer had suggested the French-born rider switched from Fair Grounds in New Orleans to the Californian circuit to test-drive a few of his likely candidates.

"I think the longer the trip, the better," said Geroux. "He's finally put it together this year. I watched some of his replays from last year and, from what Bob told me, it looked like he was still a little green, trying to figure out what was going on. 

"But today, I felt he broke alertly and put me in a great spot. When I asked him to move along the lane, he responded really well. He waited for the horse on the inside a little bit, but, as soon as he came by me, my horse gave me another gear. It was nice.

“When I came here, that was what I was expecting, to find a Derby horse. Bob is an amazing trainer and has won the Derby six times, so the record book speaks for itself. To have the opportunity to ride for him is a big honour."

Read next:

Goodnight Olive set for Gun Runner as John Stewart reveals mating plans 

Nearly and On Time Girl lead the way on fine day at Gulfstream for red-hot Not This Time