Newgrange must prove top form in San Pasqual

ARCADIA, Calif. – The ever-shifting California handicap division would temporarily stabilize Saturday if the favorite in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes does something unique, like maintain form in consecutive races.

Newgrange has won half his starts, including the San Pasqual last year and Grade 2 San Antonio last month, but it’s been two years since he won back-to-back. Now that Newgrange is 5 years old and in the prime of his career, his trainer is confident he will run two alike on his home track.

“He’s a horse that was rounding into form and finally found his top form again,” Phil D’Amato said. “He was off for a while [seven months], and he likes Santa Anita. He seems to really like this track.”

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Newgrange, 6 of 12 overall and 4 of 6 at Santa Anita, enters off a decisive San Antonio victory in his third start back. But the 1 1/8-mile San Pasqual is tougher with two fresh Bob Baffert-trainees – potential pacesetter Newgate and Mr Fisk, who defeated Newgrange last fall.

Newgrange, Newgate, and Mr Fisk top the $200,000 San Pasqual, which pales next to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The San Pasqual field also includes Stilleto Boy, a Grade 1 winner who appears to be off form; Mixto, recent runner-up to Newgrange; and stakes winners Two Rivers Over, I’mgonnabesomebody, and War At Sea.

If the San Pasqual brings clarity, it may be short-lived. A host of handicap runners are standing by. Pegasus favorite National Treasure is based in California; Subsanador, a highly regarded Group 1 winner from Argentina, needed extra time after his comeback but is expected to start again soon; Express Train, the 2021 and 2022 San Pasqual winner but unraced since fall 2022, has resumed training for a spring-summer campaign at age 7. Grade 1 winner Slow Down Andy also is gearing up.

White Abarrio, the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner based at Santa Anita, is aiming to the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 24. Saturday’s undercard at Santa Anita also includes a lightly raced 4-year-old with a bright future. Judge Miller, full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Clairiere, stretches out in race 6, an entry-level allowance. One step at a time. That also applies to Newgrange.

If he runs well Saturday, Newgrange will be considered for the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 30.

“We’ve got to get through this hurdle here,” D’Amato said. “He’s got to win or run a very good second in order to even be considered for something like that.”

Newgrange’s new rider is Victor Espinoza, who was aboard for a bullet work last Saturday.

“He’s done very well, his breezes have been very nice,” D’Amato said.

Beyond form, Newgrange employs a favorable up-front style in a race that could unfold at a modest clip.

Owned by Rockingham Ranch, David Bernsen, and Little Red Feather, Newgrange previously won 3 of 4 starts before he was purchased by his current owners at a 2022 auction and moved from Baffert to D’Amato. Newgrange won three races and $332,300 from eight starts since he was purchased for $325,000.

Newgate, who won the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis for 3-year-olds last March, returned from a layoff with a solid runner-up finish Jan. 6 in an allowance sprint. Joel Rosario rides Newgate, who is 2 for 7 lifetime and has the natural speed to have him forwardly placed if not on the lead outright.

Mr Fisk won the Grade 3 Native Diver in his most recent start Nov. 26 at Del Mar, a race in which Newgrange finished third. Mr Fisk, 3 of 8, will rally late under Juan Hernandez.

While the San Pasqual is the headliner, race 6 includes an exciting prospect in Judge Miller. Mark Glatt trains the two-start colt, who is bred for two turns. Hernandez rides Judge Miller. His main rival is Baffert-trained first-time gelding Flying Drummer, making his first start since June.

Flying Drummer recently worked in company with graded stakes-winning stablemates National Treasure (twice), Newgate, and Fort Bragg. Kyle Frey rides Flying Drummer.

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