Bob Baffert celebrated three graded wins and an exacta at Arcadia Sunday, highlighted by Newgate’s narrow victory in the GI Santa Anita H., despite the stormy forecast and the scratching of Nysos, marking a successful day for the trainer and the co-owning partnership.
‣ The GI Santa Anita H. victory by Newgate, trained by Bob Baffert, marked a significant achievement with a last-jump win, contributing to Baffert’s three graded wins for the day, despite the stormy forecast and the scratching of another promising horse, Nysos.
‣ Frankie Dettori, the winning rider of Newgate, expressed his long-held admiration for the Santa Anita Big ‘Cap, highlighting the win as a special moment in his storied career, fulfilling a dream he had since witnessing the event’s popularity in the late ’80s.
‣ Newgate’s victory not only underscored the horse’s potential and resilience but also highlighted the successful pedigree of Into Mischief, marking Newgate as the 18th top-level victor for the Spendthrift stallion, further establishing the horse’s significance in the racing community.
#5 NEWGATE ($8.40) runs down pacesetter Subsanador (Arg) in the final jump to win the $400,000 G1 Santa Anita Handicap under @FrankieDettori! pic.twitter.com/s1FJYiZfaQ
— TVG (@TVG) March 4, 2024
The storm clouds were brewing, but not even the gloomy forecast could delay the excitement at Santa Anita. Originally set for Saturday, the Big ‘Cap card got pushed to Sunday. Yet, Bob Baffert wasn’t fazed. Not in the slightest.
His horse, Newgate, pulled off a stunning last-jump victory in the GI Santa Anita H. That win marked Baffert’s third graded victory of the day. Plus, he nailed the exacta in the GII San Felipe S. Talk about a good day at the races.
The team behind Newgate? A veritable who’s who of the stallion-making world. SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and others were all in on it. Their joy doubled when Imagination snagged another win in the San Felipe.
Baffert was over the moon. “What a day,” he exclaimed, tipping his hat to his hard-working crew. Their dedication had paid off, big time. The grooms? They were practically floating, their smiles said it all.
Newgate, not the crowd’s top pick, showed them all. He trailed behind Newgrange, the favorite, but kept pace. Subsanador, the longshot, was setting a blistering pace up front. Yet, as the race heated up, Newgate was just biding his time.
Frankie Dettori, the man in the saddle, had a plan. He kept close to Victor Espinoza on Newgrange, waiting for the right moment. When they hit the quarter pole, Dettori made his move. It was a nail-biter, but Newgate surged ahead in the last 20 yards.
Winning the Big ‘Cap? A dream come true for Dettori. He reminisced about the packed stands of the late ’80s, the legends like Ferdinand and Alysheba. Last year, he rode in the Big ‘Cap for the first time. Winning it now? Unbelievable.
Before this, Newgate had played second fiddle in a couple of races. But he’d shown promise, a spark. Baffert always believed he’d shine with time. And shine he did, breaking through with a graded victory in the Robert B. Lewis S. last February.
Pedigree notes are fascinating, aren’t they? Newgate’s win added another feather in Into Mischief’s cap. And let’s not forget Majestic Presence, the dam with her own impressive lineage. The sales ring buzzed when her offspring went under the hammer.
And there it was, the tweet from TVG, capturing the moment Newgate clinched the win. Santa Anita Park was alive with the thrill of victory. Newgate, a ‘TDN Rising Star’, had proven himself on a grand stage.
The details of the race, the pedigree, the excitement—it’s all part of the rich tapestry of horse racing. From the anticipation to the heart-stopping finish, it’s a world unto itself. And for those few minutes, as the horses thunder down the track, anything seems possible.
