Robert and Beverly Lewis’ Consolidator, whose Triple Crown aspirations were thought to have faded with consecutive fourth-place finishes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last October and the San Vicente Stakes (G2) last month at Santa Anita Park, got back on track for trainer D. Wayne Lukas with a 6 ½-length romp in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The seven horses in Consolidator’s wake included five legitimate Triple Crown hopefuls: Giacomo (2nd), Don’t Get Mad (3rd), Wilko (4th), Golden Shine (5th) and a very disappointing last-place finish by Roman Ruler, who was eased late.

In the process the son of Storm Cat got the 1 1/16-mile distance in a stakes-record time of 1:40.11, more than a full second off the previous time of 1:41.20, which was set by Pole Position in 1979.

The Santa Anita track officially was listed as wet/fast for the San Felipe, and, as expected longshot Lucky J. H. set all the pace with Consolidator on his flank.

Turning for home Lucky J. H. began to fade as the closers began to make their moves, but Consolidator steadily increased his margin under a strong hand ride and establish himself as a top-tier contender for the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Lukas blamed himself for the San Vicente loss, indicating he may have pampered the colt too much.

"I went back and said, ‘I know how to get there; I’ve been there before, I know what to do,’ so I tried to correct it and asked him to do a little more.

"I just said, ‘Look, it’s time to grow up.’ We’re only going to get this opportunity once so I had a little heart-to-heart talk with him and we decided we’d get it done."

Both Giacomo and Don’t Get Mad finished well enough that their connections still appear to be pointing at the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9.

Lukas was a bit more cautious, however, indicating that the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 16 at Keeneland Race Course appealed to him because of the extra week of preparation. Consolidator also has shown a preference for the Keeneland track, where he won the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1) last October.

Consolidator was bred by S. A. Pacelco in Kentucky. Out of the Crystal Glitters mare Good Example (Fr), a multiple Group 3 winner in her native country, the Lewis’ purchased Consolidator at the 2003 Keeneland September yearling sale for $1.25 million. He has won three of nine starts and earned $639,260.