Newsman, Hunt try to fill void left by Gabriel Charles's retirement

The recent retirement of Gabriel Charles has left owner Michael House without a Grade 1 winner in his barn prior to the start of the Del Mar summer meeting next Friday.

House, who lives near Del Mar, has several prospects who could play leading roles in stakes in the coming weeks.

The stable recently completed the acquisition of Newsman, a 3-year-old colt from Ireland who is a prospect for the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 6. Newsman is scheduled to arrive in California in the coming days.

“The timing is good if everything goes well,” House said of the La Jolla.

The Grade 3 La Jolla is a prep for the $250,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 4. Gabriel Charles won a division of the Del Mar Derby in 2013.

Newsman was previously trained by Johnny Murtagh and is 1 for 7. By Makfi, Newsman was second in a minor handicap at The Curragh on June 4. Phil D’Amato will train Newsman.

Later at the meeting, House plans to start Hunt in the $75,000 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf Aug. 12. Hunt, who has won 5 of 16 starts, won the Siren Lure Stakes at Santa Anita on June 5.

Havanna Belle, the winner of the Astra Stakes at Santa Anita in January, will start later in the Del Mar meeting, which runs through Sept. 5. Havanna Belle was fourth in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita on May 5.

D’Amato trains Hunt and Havanna Belle.

“We’ve got some babies like everyone else,” House said. “We’ve got high hopes.”

House said on Thursday that a stallion deal has not been finalized for Gabriel Charles, who won the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar last July. He was retired because of a tendon injury.