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Newgate takes the Santa Anita Handicap by a head (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— With the legendary Frankie Dettori calling upon all of considerable strength and determination, Bob Baffert’s Newgate was able to rally off the turn for home and post a hard-fought head victory over vastly improved Argentina-bred Subsanador in the 87th running of the Grade I, $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap on Sunday. A 4-year-old colt by Into Mischief, Newgate, who was trying a mile and one quarter for the first time, got the distance in 2:03.49 and thus provided Baffert with his sixth lifetime win in the Big ‘Cap and his third consecutive graded tally on the day.
With Subsanador, off at 22-1, making a clear lead early, Newgate was attentive to the pace in fifth position, about three off the leader while between horses into and around the Club House turn.
Fifth by a similar margin around the far turn, Dettori shifted to the four-path approaching the quarter pole and in a gutty effort, was able to gradually collar stablemate Reincarnate and gradually wear down Subsanador, who showed tremendous heart in defeat.
Second to today’s favorite Newgrange in the Grade II San Pasqual Stakes at a mile and one eighth on Jan. 27, Newgate was the second choice today at 3-1 and paid $8.40, $4.20 and $3.20.
Owned by SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, LLC, et al, Newgate got his first career Grade I victory and his second graded win while improving his overall mark to 9-3-4-0.
With the Big ‘Cap winner’s share of $240,000, he increased his earnings to $535,775.
Fourth, but never a threat to win in his U.S. debut, the Grade II San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 26, Subsanador, trained by John Sadler, paid $15.00 and $6.00 while finishing 2 ½ lengths in front of Reincarnate.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Reincarnate appeared poised to challenge Subsanador for supremacy three-sixteenths of a mile out, but he tired late to finish a head in front of eastern shipper Highland Falls. Off at 7-2, Reincarnate paid $3.80 to show.
Fractions on the Big ‘Cap were 23.23, 47.09, 1:12.15 and 1:37.05.
GRADE I, $400,000 SANTA ANITA HANDICAP STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
LANFRANCO DETTORI, NEWGATE, WINNER: “When I was a kid here in the late 80s, there were 60,000 people here to see Ferdinand and Alysheba and you just couldn’t move. I was in awe. I rode in the Big ‘Cap the first time last year and it was a dream. And to win it, I couldn’t ask for anything more. It is a big feather in my cap, they don’t get bigger than The Santa Anita Big ‘Cap. I followed Victor (Newgrange) and I sat pretty low until the quarter pole. I took my horse to the outside, I had a bit of weight pull with some of the horses. I thought I would get to the line okay and in fairness Subsanador gave me a good fight. The last twenty yards we got out in front, and I couldn’t believe it. I could not believe that I had done it.”
TRAINER QUOTES
BOB BAFFERT, NEWGATE, WINNER: “We always thought that he was going to be a better horse as he gets older and we’ve been patient, just getting races into him and today was supposed to be his coming out party kind of race. I was getting a little worried there turning for home it looked like that other horse got away but he just dug in. It is such a historical race and just to win it, for our team and with Frankie Dettori, it really makes it that much more special. He was telling me when Alysheba and Ferdinand ran together Santa Anita was just packed. So, he knows how historical this race is. What a day, I am just blessed and happy that I have a hard working crew that just works hard to get these horses ready. Today they got rewarded with their wins. Those grooms, I’ve never seen them happier.”
NOTES: The winning owners are SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A., Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan.
