Newgate Out Until Summer Due to Hock Issue

Newgate , winner of the Feb. 4 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), will be sidelined due to a hock issue, according to one of the partners in the colt's ownership.

Tom Ryan—managing partner for SF Racing, which owns the 3-year-old son of Into Mischief   with Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan—tweeted Feb. 10 that veterinarians have recommended 60 to 90 days off for the colt before a resumption of training.

"His prognosis to return is excellent. We look forward to seeing him back this summer," he continued.

The Bob Baffert trainee is 2-2-0 in six starts with earnings of $241,975. Prior to his victory in the Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita Park, he was runner-up in the Jan. 8 Sham Stakes (G3) there and in the Bob Hope Stakes (G3) last fall at Del Mar.

Owing to Churchill Downs Inc.'s rules related to its suspension of Baffert from its tracks through early July, Newgate and other Baffert-trained runners have not earned any qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Barring legal relief, his horses would need to move into the care of other trainers by the end of February to qualify and race in the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. 

Even with Newgate being sidelined, the colt's ownership has high-class 3-year-olds in active training in California, among them Carmel Road , Fort Bragg , Fort Warren , National Treasure , and Reincarnate .