Newgate off Derby trail with injury

ARCADIA, Calif. – An untimely setback to the improving 3-year-old colt Newgate has knocked the Bob Baffert trainee off the Kentucky Derby trail.

Days after Newgate won the highly rated Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Feb. 4 at Santa Anita, racing manager Tom Ryan announced Friday on Twitter that Newgate has been sidelined with a “minor hock issue.”

Newgate is an Into Mischief colt owned by a partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables. This winter at Santa Anita, Newgate emerged as one of the most rapidly improving Derby prospects while utilizing new off-the-pace tactics by jockey Frankie Dettori.

Newgate rallied from last to finish second in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Jan. 8, followed by a 100 Beyer Speed Figure victory in the Lewis. Newgate was listed co-seventh choice on Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch, at 20-1. Newgate has won two races and $241,975 from six starts.

Ryan wrote on Twitter that veterinarians “recommended 60/90 days before resuming training.” Regarding Newgate, Ryan added “His prognosis to return is excellent. We look forward to seeing him back this summer.”

Specifics were unavailable Friday morning. The setback to Newgate occurred exactly one year since a possibly similar setback sidelined subsequent Horse of the Year Flightline. Flightline won the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, 2021, and in February 2022 was sidelined with a hock issue. He returned with an outstanding campaign that included wins in the Met Mile, Pacific Classic, and Breeders’ Cup Classic before being named 2022 Horse of the Year.

Newgate was one of seven Baffert trainees ranked in the top 20 of Derby Watch. The partnership that owns Newgate owns current Derby prospects National Treasure and Reincarnate. Baffert trainees that are currently ranked among leading Derby candidates include Arabian Knight, Cave Rock, National Treasure, Reincarnate, Faustin, and Hejazi.