Making his first start since gallant third behind Japan's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the G2 UAE Derby Mar. 30, Pandagate (Arrogate) saved his best for last and outfought slightly favored Doc Sullivan (Solomini) to take Monday's New York Derby at Finger Lakes.
The strapping gray colt, a 5 1/2-length winner of the Feb. 25 Gander Stakes that earned him a ticket to Dubai, the $130,000 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred yearling was void of early speed and sat fifth of the six runners behind a moderate pace for the opening half-mile. Put to a drive with about 2 1/2 furlongs to race, Pandagate took some time to find his top gear, but he was produced four or five wide into the stretch by Dylan Davis, hit the front at the furlong grounds and battled on bravely to hold off the favorite for the victory.
Kitty Panda, third in New York-bred stakes company, was acquired by top Kentucky breeder Fred Hertrich for $160,000 in foal to Blame at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton February Sale. The 14-year-old mare is a half-sister to MSW & GSP Akilina (Langfuhr), the dam of SW & MGSP Governor Malibu (Malibu Moon) and Rieno Tesoro (Speightstown), a three-time listed winner on dirt in Japan and placed against the boys in Group 1 company on the turf. Kitty Panda's last listed produce is a 2-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by City of Light. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
NEW YORK DERBY, $159,000, Finger Lakes, 7-15, (S), 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:45.63, ft.
1–PANDAGATE, 124, r, 3, by Arrogate
1st Dam: Kitty Panda (SP, $113,733), by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: Fahamore, by Gulch
3rd Dam: Cathy's Gal, by Easy Goer
($130,000 Ylg '22 SARAUG). O-Adelphi Racing Club, Madaket Stables LLC, Corms Racing Stable & On The Rise Again Stable; B-Fred W Hertrich (NY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Dylan Davis. $95,400. Lifetime Record: GSP-UAE, 5-3-0-2, $297,050.
2–Doc Sullivan, 124, c, 3, Solomini–Queen Frostine, by Giant's Causeway. ($58,000 Ylg '22 SARAUG; $59,000 2yo '23 OBSOPN). O-Tristar Farm LLC; B-Seamus Coughlan (NY); T-Michael Miceli. $31,800.
3–Skyler's Starship, 118, g, 3, Mendelssohn–Dorothy's Aurora, by Simon Pure. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-SJB Stable; B-Stephen Jr Barberino Jr Accumulation Trust (NY); T-M Anthony Ferraro. $15,900.
Margins: 3/4, 2HF, NK. Odds: 1.35, 0.95, 33.50.
Also Ran: Elysian Meadows, Aggelos the Great, Merlin's Moment.
#4 PANDAGATE ($4.70) under @DavisJockey rallies on the outside to get up and win the $150,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes. The son of Arrogate is trained by Christophe Clement . Congrats to all the connections! pic.twitter.com/RVKMZj6ZFD
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 15, 2024
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