Newgrange, Ortiz, Jr. Cruise To 2 ¼ Length Tally In Grade II, $200,000 San Antonio

__NEWGRANGE, ORTIZ, JR. CRUISE TO 2 ¼ LENGTH TALLY IN GRADE II, $200,000 SAN ANTONIO AS D’AMATO GETS STAKES DOUBLE __

ARCADIA, CA (Dec. 26, 2023)—Ridden for the first time by four-time Eclipse Award champion Irad Ortiz, Jr., Phil D’Amato’s Newgrange stalked a speedy Brickyard Ride around the far turn, took command while wide-out and went on to cruise to an easy 2 ¼ length win in Tuesday’s Grade II, $200,000 San Antonio Stakes, stopping the clock for a mile and one sixteenth in 1:42.79 as he provided D’Amato with a stakes double on Santa Anita’s Classic Meet opening day.

As expected, multiple stakes winning sprinter Brickyard Ride showed the way early in the San Antonio, setting fractions of 23.26, 47.31, 1:11.11 and 1:36.10. Although headed by the winner a quarter mile out, Brickyard Ride battled on gamely at the rail but tired to finish third, beaten a half length for second money by Mixto.

A winner of the Grade II San Pasqual Stakes four starts back here on Jan. 28, Newgrange was off at 7-2 in a field of five 3-year-olds and up and paid $9.60, $3.20 and $3.00.

Owned by David Bernsen, LLC, Little Red Feather Racing and Rockingham Ranch, Newgrange, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Violence out of the Empire Maker mare Bella Chianti, collected his fourth graded stakes win and his sixth overall victory from 12 starts.

Five-wide turning for home, Mixto, although last coming to the furlong pole, kept to his task and proved second best on the day under Antonio Fresu. Off at 9-1, he paid $6.80 and $3.80.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Brickyard Ride, off at 5-1, paid $4.20 to show while finishing a half length in front of Argentine-bred Subsanador, who was making his U.S. debut as the 6-5 favorite.

Stilleto Boy, winner of this year’s Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, was never a factor and checked in last with no apparent excuses.