Newgrange must follow in big footsteps as a Baffert-trained winner of Sham Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – Newgrange gave trainer Bob Baffert his third consecutive win in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, and the trainer’s sixth win in the last 10 years in the early season one-mile test for 3-year-olds.
Newgrange joins outstanding company as a winner of the Sham trained by Baffert, who has claimed the exacta in the race the last three years.
Authentic won the 2020 Sham for Baffert, beating stablemate Azul Coast. Authentic later won the Kentucky Derby when the race was delayed to September because of the pandemic, and won the Breeders’ Cup Classic that November in his final start. Authentic was named Horse of the Year.
Last year, Life Is Good beat Medina Spirit in the Sham. Life Is Good won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita last March, but missed the Triple Crown because of injury. Life Is Good was transferred to trainer Todd Pletcher later in the year and finished the season with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar in November.
Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby last May, but tested positive for a banned medication, a case that is still the subject of court action. Medina Spirit died Dec. 6 during a workout at Santa Anita.
The cause of death has not been determined, although it is suspected he may have had a heart attack.
Newgrange, a colt by Violence, won a maiden special weight at six furlongs at Del Mar in his debut on Nov. 28 when ridden by John Velazquez. At the time, the New York-based Velazquez was visiting Del Mar to ride stakes.
Velazquez has since relocated to Southern California for the winter and was aboard Newgrange again in the Sham for the colt’s stakes debut. Newgrange led throughout and won by 2 3/4 lengths over stablemate Rockefeller, winner of the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes on Nov. 7 at Belmont Park.
“I thought he’d like going long,” Velazquez said between workouts Sunday morning. “Bob had him ready.”
Newgrange, Rockefeller, and any other 3-year-old trained by Baffert will need to run for a trainer other than Baffert if they are going to make the Kentucky Derby.
Because of the Medina Spirit positive in the Kentucky Derby, Baffert cannot have starters in the Kentucky Derby this year or in 2023, Churchill Downs announced in June. Baffert-trained horses also cannot earn qualifying points toward the Derby, Churchill said.