Lombo, who broke his maiden just two weeks ago, put himself squarely on the road to the 2019 Triple Crown on Saturday when the 3-year-old Graydar colt rolled to a front-running score in the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

“He’s definitely a high octane horse. Apparently, Graydar had some of the same characteristics and Unbridled’s Song (Graydar’s sire) as well,” said Lombo’s jublilant trainer Mike Pender. “He’s starting to figure it out. When he does really figure it out, I think he’ll be really dangerous.”

Prior to Saturday’s win in the 1 1/16-mile Lewis, Lombo had never been around two turns, but he carried his natural speed the entire trip. Under Flavien Prat, Lombo went to the lead immediately and was up as much as four lengths before hitting the wire two lengths ahead of Ayacara (GB). He covered the distance in 1:45.41.

“We’ve been training since November to get two turns. I knew he had intense gate speed,” Pender added. “I knew he was going to break right on the muscle today and take them as far as he could.”

Lombo takes his name from owner Michael Lombardi. The gray/roan colt is now 2-0-1 in four starts, earning $129,225.

The winner was bred by Twin Creeks Farm. Graydar is arguably the hottest Second-Crop Sire of 2018, with 10 winners and nearly $300,000 in progeny earnings to date.