Irad Ortiz Jr. follows directions to a tee with Newgrange in San Antonio

ARCADIA, Calif. - Stay involved.

That was the manner visiting jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was advised by trainer Phil D’Amato to take with Newgrange in Tuesday’s Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita.

Ortiz, making a rare Santa Anita appearance to ride stakes on Tuesday’s opening-day program, had Newgrange behind pacesetter Brickyard Ride to early stretch, took the lead with more than a furlong remaining, and was unchallenged by four rivals in the final sixteenth.

“Irad did what had to be done,” D’Amato said. “He popped him out of the gate, and put him in a tracking position and kept at him.”

The third choice in a field of five, Newgrange ($9.60) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.79 and won his second stakes of 2023 in the $200,000 San Antonio. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 99. Newgrange won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in January.

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Newgrange won the San Antonio Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over 9-1 Mixto, who closed from last in the final furlong to finish second. Brickyard Ride (5-1) held third, after setting fractions of 23.26 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.31 for a half-mile. He was followed followed in the order of finish by Subsanador and Stilleto Boy.

Salesman, winner of the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at 1 5/8 miles at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, was scratched after tying up in recent days, trainer Richard Mandella said.

Newgrange played the role of spoiler in the San Antonio. Subsanador, a multiple Group 1 winner from Argentina, had his American debut in the San Antonio and was making first start since late July.

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Subsanador was last on the backstretch and moved closer with a wide run on the turn under jockey Flavien Prat. Subsanador failed to pose a threat in the final furlong and was beaten 3 1/4 lengths.

“I thought I was traveling well all the way around,” Prat said. “When the race [started], he needed a bit of time to get going.

“He can step up. Maybe he needed the race.”

Newgrange, a 4-year-old by Violence, has won 6 of 12 starts while earning $887,634. He has won four stakes in his career, including two Grade 3 races in early 2022 for 3-year-olds when trained by Bob Baffert.

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Purchased for $325,000 at a horses in training sale in the summer of 2022, Newgrange races for David Bernsen, the Little Red Feather Racing partnership, and Rockingham Ranch.

Newgrange gave D’Amato his second graded stakes win on Tuesday.

D’Amato said the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 27 is an early 2024 goal for Newgrange.

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