Newgate wins the Big ‘Cap to become Into Mischief’s 19th G1 winner

Newgate proves best in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap (G1) under Frankie Dettori | Benoit photo

Into Mischief was represented with his 19th Grade 1 winner when his 4-year-old son Newgate captured the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 3rd, capping a monster day at Santa Anita for the five-time reigning North American Champion General Sire.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Newgate broke well and settled mid-pack while racing wide. That put him in position to circle the field on the final turn of the 1 1/4-mile contest with a clean path and no traffic, despite losing ground. Once straightening for home, Newgate continued a sustained rally and ran down the front-running Subsanador to win by a head. He stopped the timer in 2:03.49, earning a 99 Beyer for the performance.

Bred in Kentucky by Town & Country Horse Farms, Newgate is out of the Majestic Warrior mare Majestic Presence, who is also the dam of Denim and Pearls, a stakes-placed 3-year-old full sister to Newgate. The mare also has a 2-year-old filly by first-crop sire Authentic, Into Mischief’s 2020 Horse of the Year. Newgate was sold at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $850,000 to SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and partners. He is trained by Bob Baffert.

“We always thought that he was going to be a better horse as he gets older and we’ve been patient, just getting races into him and today was supposed to be his coming out party kind of race,” Baffert said. “I was getting a little worried there turning for home it looked like that other horse got away but he just dug in.”

Newgate now has earnings of $535,775 after becoming his sire’s 19th Grade 1 winner. As a 2-year-old, Newgate won his debut and went on to capture the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) as a 3-year-old. Following a break from the races, Newgate returned at 4 to finish runner-up in the San Pasqual S. (G2) at Santa Anita before breaking through in the Big ‘Cap.

Earlier on the card, Into Mischief’s rising 3-year-old son Imagination won the San Felipe S. (G2) for the very same connections.