Newgrange Draws Off for Decisive Score in San Antonio

Newgrange  closed the 2023 season the same way he opened it—with a grade 2 victory at Santa Anita Park.

After shadowing front-running Brickyard Ride  Dec. 26 in the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes (G2), Newgrange and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. put that one away at the top of the stretch, and then, while he may have won anyway, showed an energetic burst late to secure a 2 1/4-length victory. Campaigned by Rockingham Ranch, David A. Bernsen, and Little Red Feather Racing, Newgrange completed the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds and older in 1:42.79 on a fast track.

"What can I say about the horse? He did everything, I was a good passenger," said Ortiz, who was aboard Newgrange for the first time. "He was going perfectly the whole way and when I asked him to go, he responded. Honestly, I didn't know the horse, but I talked to Phil (D'Amato, trainer), and he told me exactly what I had to do, I think, because everything went the right way."

Longshot Mixto  rallied late for second, although he never threatened the winner, and Brickyard Ride held third.

While Newgrange appears ready for bigger and better challenges, Subsanador  came up short in his North American debut. Sent off the 6-5 favorite for trainer John Sadler, Subsanador was asked for his best between horses in the far turn. While he moved from fifth to third for Flavien Prat, his effort flattened and he finished fourth.

Trainer Phil D'Amato landed his second grade 2 victory of the day after the successful Southern California-based trainer won the San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) earlier with Easter .

"This horse is starting to round into form," said D'Amato, after landing the San Antonio for the first time. "I think the long layoff did him some good. I know he likes Santa Anita. He was better the other day and he put it all together today. Irad rode a perfect race. He stayed right behind Brickyard Ride and when it came time to run, he did the rest. I think we will point him toward the San Pasqual next."

The San Pasqual Stakes (G2) is scheduled for Jan. 27 at Santa Anita.

Breeding & Sales

Newgrange, who won a pair of grade 3 races at age 3—including the lucrative Southwest Stakes (G3)—is closing in on $1 million in earnings at $887,634. Newgrange was purchased by his current owners at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Horses of Racing Age Sale when Rockingham Ranch (agent Sweetwater Trading) went to $325,000 for the colt consigned by ELiTe, agent.

Bred in Kentucky by Jack Mandato and Black Rock Thoroughbreds, Newgrange is one of five foals to race, all winners, out of the unraced Empire Maker mare Bella Chianti. Newgrange is one of six graded-stakes winners this season for Violence  , who will stand the 2024 season for $40,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa near Paris, Ky.