By Christina Bossinakis
In a sport often built upon uncertainty, the latest renewal of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. offered one foregone conclusion–a Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old would emerge victorious. With only four horses–all trained by Baffert–going postward in Saturday's sophomore feature at Santa Anita, Newgate (Into Mischief) was most fancied of the quartet, with Arabian Lion (Justify) given a 2-1 chance over Worcester (Empire Maker) at 5-2. Accompanied by famed European rider Frankie Dettori, the favorite was held under restraint in last by about 2 1/2 lengths as Arabian Lion and Hard to Figure (Hard Spun), sent off at 12-1, led the way through :23.87 and :47.76 splits. Asked by Dettori for more approaching the quarter pole, the bay was three wide turning for home, and despite seeming like he had the most forward momentum, had to work hard down the lane to get past Hard to Figure, inching ahead in the final sixteenth en route to a neck victory. Worcester was third while Arabian Lion crossed the wire fourth.
“We had good pace in the race, we came back in good time,” said Dettori, who is planning to retire at the end of this season. “Today, we moved sharper and we beat some good horses. He was a little slow with his lead changes, but he ran well.”
A TDN Rising Star-earning winner at Del Mar last July, the bay finished fourth next time out in the seven-furlong GI Del Mar Futurity before a fifth in the GI Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in October. Closing out 2022 with a runner-up finish in the GIII Bob Hope S. Nov. 20, he returned in 2023 with a productive second, beaten only a neck, in Santa Anita's GIII Sham S. Jan. 8. Dettori was aboard for his latest start.
“Frankie Dettori has been teaching him how to just sit back, relax and come with a punch and that's what he did today,” said Baffert. “Newgate, before when we were sending him, he wasn't finishing. I wasn't sure how far he wanted to go…I was actually nervous before the race, worried that something weird might happen, but I can relax now.”
Pedigree Notes:
Into Mischief dominated Coast-to-Coast sophomore racing action with a pair of colts earning black-type at Santa Anita and at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Newgate's Robert B. Lewis score gave the Spendthrift stallion his 61st graded winner, following General Jim's 60th recorded winner earlier in the day in South Florida.
The winner's dam, Majestic Presence, was secured for $360,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale in foal to Runhappy. The 11-year-old mare has a year younger full-sister to Newgate, named Denim and Pearls, and a yearling half-sister by Authentic. She was bred back to Essential Quality.
Saturday, Santa Anita
ROBERT B. LEWIS S.-GIII, $196,000, Santa Anita, 2-4, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.11, ft.
1–NEWGATE, 120, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Majestic Presence (GSP-USA, MSP-Can, $227,896), by Majestic Warrior
2nd Dam: Shining Victory, by Victory Gallop
3rd Dam: Phoenix Sunshine, by Encino
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
WIN. ($850,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight
Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet
Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC &
Catherine Donovan; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC (KY);
T-Bob Baffert; J-Lanfranco Dettori. $120,000. Lifetime Record:
6-2-2-0, $241,975. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hard to Figure, 120, c, 3, Hard Spun–Ani La, by Mr. Greeley.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($40,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $200,000
2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul
Weitman; B-James Heyward (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $40,000.
3–Worcester, 120, c, 3, Empire Maker–Lil Super Bear,
by Super Saver. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($180,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing,
Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A.
Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine Donovan;
B-Jerry Dixon Revocable Trust & Empire Maker Syndicate (KY);
T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 12.80, 2.50.
Also Ran: Arabian Lion.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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