Horse Racing Betting: Liaison, Rousing Sermon Matchup in Robert B. Lewis Stakes

by Bodog Racebook Staff | Feb 2 2012

We've got a live one on Saturday afternoon as a total of eight three-year-olds are set for the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Not only is it a prep race for the Kentucky Derby, which is further down the road, it's a prep for the upcoming Santa Anita Derby on April 7th.

Saturday's $200,000 purse is nice but it pales in comparison to the $750,000 that will be on the line at the Santa Anita Derby.

One of the highlights of this race will be rivalry between Liaison and Rousing Sermon. That duo was separated by less than two lengths in two stakes at Hollywood Park in the fall and the rivalry will be renewed on Saturday.

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Liaison, Rousing Sermon renew acquaintances

Both Liaison and Rousing Sermon will be making their seasonal debuts on Saturday at the 1 1/16-mile heat. Liaison is a Bob Baffert-trained three-year-old while Rousing Sermon is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

So far, Liaison has had the upper hand with wins in the two fall races. The margins have been extremely narrow, though, as Liaison took the Real Quiet on November 12th by less than two lengths and then escaped by only a neck in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity on December 17th.

Rousing Sermon has done his share of winning as well as the colt came through in the California Cup in late October with a 2 1/4-length win. Even so, he'll be looking to get the better of Liaison, who so far has not given ground in their first two meetings of the season.

Keep an eye on Isn't He Clever

The inside post will go to Isn't He Clever, who won the Riley Allison Futurity at Sunland Park on December 30th. Corey Nakatani will hop on board of the Henry Dominquez-trained horse in his 2012 debut.

He's had a nice run recently as he won the aforementioned futurity by 11-lengths after being posted as the even-money favorite. Prior to that, he placed second in the Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park last November. So far, the J. Kirk and Judy Robinson owned horse, who is the son of Smarty Jones, has paid dividends by winning three of his four starts while raking in $113,960 in earnings.

Field stocked with eight competitors
 
The field will go as follows according to post position: Isn't He Clever, Liaison, Groovin' Solo, I'll Have Another, Sky Kingdom, Rousing Sermon, Empire Way and Chips All In.

Post time for the Robert B. Lewis Stakes is set for 6:05 PM ET on Saturday.

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