Newgrange, the dominant older horse at the current Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, will start in the March 2 Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap as a potential prep for the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 30. Newgrange won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 27 for his second consecutive stakes win of the winter. Trainer Phil D’Amato said after the San Pasqual that the $12 million Dubai World Cup would be Newgrange’s next start. On Thursday, D’Amato said a start in the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles will allow ample time for Newgrange to start later in the month in Dubai. The Santa Anita Handicap, also known as the "Big Cap" is the richest race of the winter-spring season for older horses. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports “We’re going to run in the Big Cap and then hopefully two weeks later put him on the plane,” D’Amato said. “It seems logical. He seems to do well running on a monthly basis and not having to train excessively in between. It keeps him on a routine. “If I ran [in the Big Cap], I don’t have to do much with him before Dubai.” Newgrange, a 5-year-old horse, was seventh of nine in the 2023 Big Cap, and did not race again until last October. Owned by the partnership of David Bernsen, Rockingham Ranch, and the Little Red Feather Racing syndicate, Newgrange has won 7 of 13 starts. The Dubai World Cup is also run at 1 1/4 miles. The Big Cap field will be a rematch of sorts of the San Pasqual. Newgate, Mixto, and Mr Fisk, who finished second, third, and fifth, are considered Big Cap probables. Newgate and Mr Fisk are trained by Bob Baffert. Mixto is trained by Doug O’Neill, who also has aspirations for the Dubai World Cup program with Two Rivers Over, who was fourth in the San Pasqual. Two Rivers Over may start in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile. “A mile might be right up his alley,” O’Neill said. Two Rivers Over won the $300,000 Zia Park Derby at 1 1/16 miles in New Mexico in November in his stakes debut. Mixto, by Good Magic, beat maidens in his seventh start at Del Mar in November and was second by 2 1/4 lengths to Newgrange in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 26 in his following start. Mixto was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Newgrange in the San Antonio at 1 1/8 miles, leaving O’Neill eager to try the 4-year-old colt in the Big Cap. “I thought he ran lights out,” O’Neill said. “He’s getting better and better. His gallop-out was freakish and the extra distance shouldn’t be a problem.” O’Neill said he has not finalized short-term race goals for the multiple stakes winner Slow Down Andy or Guy Named Joe, who was third in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields last Saturday. Slow Down Andy has not raced since he won the fourth stakes of his 14-race career in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 30. A 5-year-old owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Slow Down Andy was diagnosed with a swollen ankle in October. He resumed workouts last month for an intended comeback as early as next month. “I’ve got to get with Paul as far as what we’ll point him to,” O’Neill said. “We’ve got options. My mind is kind of late March.” Guy Named Joe was beaten three lengths by Endlessly in the El Camino Real Derby in his stakes debut and first start on a synthetic track. Guy Named Joe won a maiden race on turf in his fifth start at Santa Anita on Dec. 29 and is likely to return to that surface. “I thought he ran a credible race” in the El Camino Real Derby, O’Neill said. “We’ve got a ton of options for him. I think he’s a solid turf horse.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.