Newgate captured Saturday’s $200,000 Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park for his first graded stakes victory.
With just four horses all trained by Bob Baffert going postward in the 1 1/16-mile contest for 3-year-olds, Baffert was assured of his fifth straight win and 11th overall in the prep for the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Newgate, the even-money favorite, was last of the four through the first half-mile, with Arabian Lion setting the pace of :47.76. Newgate was never more than a couple of lengths of the lead and inched closer while wide on the turn. Hard to Figure took the lead turning for home, with Newgate right on his outside. The duo battled through the stretch and Newgate got the better of his stablemate in the final sixteenth to win by a neck in 1:43.11 on a fast track.
“Frankie Dettori has been teaching him how to just sit back, relax and come with a punch and that’s what he did today,” said Baffert of the winner. “Newgate, before when we were sending him, he wasn’t finishing. I wasn’t sure how far he wanted to go. “I was actually nervous before the race, worried that something weird might happen, but I can relax now.”
Newgate is owned by the conglomerate of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine Donovan.
Prior to Saturday’s win, Newgate placed second in both the Bob Hope S. (G3) and Sham S. (G3). He is 2-2-0 in six starts and has earned $241,975.