By Bill Finley
'TDN Rising Star' Newgate (Into Mischief), the winner of last Saturday's GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita under Frankie Dettori, has been diagnosed with a minor hock issue that will prevent him from making a start in the GI Kentucky Derby.
The news of the injury was announced on Twitter early Friday by Tom Ryan, the managing partner of one of the colt's owners, SF Racing LLC.
“His prognosis to return is excellent,” Ryan wrote. “We look forward to seeing him back this summer.”
Ryan also wrote that veterinarians have recommended 60 to 90 days off for Newgate before he resumes training.
The setback may mean that Dettori will not have a Kentucky Derby mount. When announcing his decision to ride at the current meet at Santa Anita, Dettori said that one of the reasons he came to Southern California was that the move gave him a chance to pick up a Derby contender. He has only ridden in the race once, in 2000.
Dettori is the regular rider of the once-beaten G1 Darley Dewhurst S. winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a top contender for the G1 2000 Guineas, also run on the first Saturday in May.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Newgate only broke his maiden in three tries as a 2-year-old, but has improved this year to the point where he was considered by most to be among the leading contenders for the Derby. He finished second in the GIII Sham S. and then won the Lewis by a neck over stablemate Hard to Figure (Hard Spun), earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
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