Determined Dortmund Dazzles in Robert B. Lewis

Dortmund (inside) outfinished Firing Line to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Dortmund looked defeated near the finish line after giving up the lead to Firing Line but the 3-to-5 favorite fought back bravely to win the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes by a head.
Tizcano went to the front right out of the starting gate in the 1 1/16-mile race, but Dortmund cruised ahead to join him on the lead, making the race anything but easy for the 29.10-to-1 pacesetter. Tizcano led through an opening quarter-mile in :23.18 and after a half-mile in :46.80 he Tizcano conceded the battle Dortmund as 9-to-5 second betting choice Firing Line joined them up front.
Soon the race turned into the two-horse duel most fans expected it to be, and Dortmund and Firing Line went head-to-head from there on out in a rematch of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity.
It looked like Dortmund was finished with an eighth of a mile to go as Firing Line inched ahead in the stretch, at one time building nearly a length advantage on his much taller rival. Dortmund again showed the determination that he had displayed in the Los Alamitos Futurity fighting back to stay undefeated in four starts. 
Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard
Firing Line was only a head behind in second while Rock Shandy was able to hold third over Hero Ten All. Rock Shandy was 21 ½ lengths behind the top two.
Ridden by Martin Garcia, Dortmund completed the race in 1:42.20. He is trained by Bob Baffert for owner Kaleem Shah, the same duo that handles 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern.
Dortmund is by 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown and out of graded stakes-placed Our Josephina, by Tale of the Cat.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
DORTMUND RETURNS A GAME WINNER

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire