Frankie Dettori | Horse Racing Free Tips

Newgate Last to First in Robert B. Lewis

In a sport often built upon uncertainty, the latest renewal of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. offered one foregone conclusion–a Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old would emerge victorious. With only four horses–all trained by Baffert–going postward in Saturday's sophomore feature at Santa Anita, Newgate (Into Mischief) was most fancied of the quartet, with Arabian Lion (Justify) given a 2-1 chance over Worcester (Empire Maker) at 5-2. Accompanied by famed European rider Frankie Dettori, the favorite was held under restraint in last by about 2 1/2 lengths as Arabian Lion and Hard to Figure (Hard Spun), sent off at 12-1, led the way through :23.87 and :47.76 splits. Asked by Dettori for more approaching the quarter pole, the bay was three wide turning for home, and despite seeming like he had the most forward momentum, had to work hard down the lane to get past Hard to Figure, inching ahead in the final sixteenth en route to a neck victory. Worcester was third while Arabian Lion crossed the wire fourth.

“We had good pace in the race, we came back in good time,” said Dettori, who is planning to retire at the end of this season. “Today, we moved sharper and we beat some good horses. He was a little slow with his lead changes, but he ran well.”

A TDN Rising Star-earning winner at Del Mar last July, the bay finished fourth next time out in the seven-furlong GI Del Mar Futurity before a fifth in the GI Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in October. Closing out 2022 with a runner-up finish in the GIII Bob Hope S. Nov. 20, he returned in 2023 with a productive second, beaten only a neck, in Santa Anita's GIII Sham S. Jan. 8. Dettori was aboard for his latest start.

“Frankie Dettori has been teaching him how to just sit back, relax and come with a punch and that's what he did today,” said Baffert. “Newgate, before when we were sending him, he wasn't finishing. I wasn't sure how far he wanted to go…I was actually nervous before the race, worried that something weird might happen, but I can relax now.”

Pedigree Notes:
Into Mischief dominated Coast-to-Coast sophomore racing action with a pair of colts earning black-type at Santa Anita and at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Newgate's Robert B. Lewis score gave the Spendthrift stallion his 61st graded winner, following General Jim's 60th recorded winner earlier in the day in South Florida.

The winner's dam, Majestic Presence, was secured for $360,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale in foal to Runhappy. The 11-year-old mare has a year younger full-sister to Newgate, named Denim and Pearls, and a yearling half-sister by Authentic. She was bred back to Essential Quality.

Saturday, Santa Anita
ROBERT B. LEWIS S.-GIII, $196,000, Santa Anita, 2-4, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.11, ft.
1–NEWGATE, 120, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Majestic Presence (GSP-USA, MSP-Can, $227,896), by Majestic Warrior
2nd Dam: Shining Victory, by Victory Gallop
3rd Dam: Phoenix Sunshine, by Encino
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
WIN. ($850,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight
Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet
Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC &
Catherine Donovan; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC (KY);
T-Bob Baffert; J-Lanfranco Dettori. $120,000. Lifetime Record:
6-2-2-0, $241,975. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hard to Figure, 120, c, 3, Hard Spun–Ani La, by Mr. Greeley.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($40,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $200,000
2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul
Weitman; B-James Heyward (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $40,000.
3–Worcester, 120, c, 3, Empire Maker–Lil Super Bear,
by Super Saver. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($180,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing,
Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A.
Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine Donovan;
B-Jerry Dixon Revocable Trust & Empire Maker Syndicate (KY);
T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 12.80, 2.50.
Also Ran: Arabian Lion.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Dettori Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast

Riding full-time in the U.S. for the first time in his storied career, Frankie Dettori has brought his talents to Arcadia, California, where he has settled in as a regular in the Santa Anita jockey's colony. Dettori joined this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland to discuss his three wins on opening day, his expectations for the Santa Anita meet, his search for a contender for the GI Kentucky Derby and his plans to retire after this year's Breeders' Cup. Dettori was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week.

“I couldn't really have asked for more,” he said of his opening day heroics, which included a win aboard Saudi-bound Country Grammer (Tonalist) in the GII San Antonio S. “Had Country Grammer been my only winner it would have been a great day. To get three on the board, it was amazing.”

Among the reasons Dettori came to the U.S. was the hope that he could land a Derby mount. He doesn't have one yet, but the jockey and his agent, Ron Anderson, are working on finding a candidate. He has ridden in just one Derby, finishing sixth in 2000 with China Visit (Red Ransom), an experience he called “amazing.”

“Everything is open,” he said. “I did mention to Bob Baffert that if he's got a nice 3-year-old for me to put me on. He can just give me the thumbs up. Around the time of the Big 'Cap I will have a pretty good idea if I have a nice 3-year-old or not. If I do, I will extend my stay. Usually all the trials are beginning to develop in March and April, like the Santa Derby. So everything's open. At the moment I've got two good 3-year-olds in Europe, colts and fillies. But you know, if I get an American Pharoah, that's a different ball game. I'm not saying no to anything.”

There has been a lot of news out of the Dettori camp of late. First there was the announcement that he was coming to Santa Anita, which was followed by him revealing that this will be his last year. Why stop now?

“I still get the good rides and I still feel good,” he said. “But by the end of next year I'll be 53. I want to leave a legacy where I finish on the top. This game is very fickle. You can go from hero to zero in the space of a few days. At the moment, physically, I feel that I can give my owners and my horses and my trainers 200%. I feel that if I can have one more good year, it is time to move on. My heart wants to carry on. I mean Mike Smith is a classic example. He's 57 and he is still riding at his very best. I don't want racing to stop me. I want myself to stop.”

And what will he do after he stops riding?

“I'd like to get into the media,” Dettori said. “I'd like to be a commentator. I still want to be involved in racing, but I want to be young enough that I can jump in and start something else.”

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, Lane's End, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, XBTV and https://www.threechimneys.com/ West Point Thoroughbreds, Zoe Cadman, Randy Moss and Bill Finley discussed their picks in various Eclipse Award races. In a 3-year-old male division where nothing is clear cut, Finley said he voted for GI Runhappy Malibu S. winner Taiba (Gun Runner), while Cadman and Moss voted for Epicenter (Not This Time). All three agreed that the Eclipse committee sends out the ballots too early and that no votes should be accepted before Jan. 1.

Another subject was the retirements of trainers Dale Capuano and Rick Schosberg. Two well respected successful horsemen left the sport at the end of the year and what does that say about a game where it seems that the super trainers prosper and everyone else struggles to make a go if it?

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Dettori Off To a Flyer in California

Frankie Dettori's Southern California sojourn could scarcely have gotten off to a more positive start, as the legendary jockey rode a three-timer on the opening day of the winter/spring meeting at Santa Anita Park just outside of Los Angeles.

In the first of his four rides on Boxing Day, Dettori was reunited with the Country Grammer (Tonalist), with whom the Italian won his record-equaling fourth G1 Dubai World Cup last March, in the GII San Antonio S. (video), a potential steppingstone to yet another Middle East appearance. Handy to the pace every step, Dettori set the 5-year-old alight with two furlongs remaining and pulled away by 4 1/2 lengths at 3-5.

“I'm spending the winter here and on day one riding here, on one of the best horses in the world, the pressure was on,” said the 52-year-old. “I felt it but the horse was in great form, and I was able to enjoy the scream of the crowd and it is nice to be back at Santa Anita. What a place! What a crowd, it's amazing.”

There were more flying dismounts to come. Dettori made the most of the opportunity in the very next event, leading every step of the way to cause a 13-2 upset astride the Doug O'Neill-trained La Deuxieme Etoile (Nyquist) in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on Santa Anita's unique downhill turf course, and he made it three on the trot aboard favoured Ballet Dancing (Medaglia d'Oro) for Simon Callaghan and the Coolmore partners in a nine-furlong allowance two races later. Dettori's mounts were unplaced in the GI Malibu S. and GI American Oaks later in the program.

One thing is clear–Dettori, who recently announced that he will hang up his tack at the end of next season, is energized and is relishing the task at hand.

“Thirty-five years went like a flash. I've got to make these last 12 months the best that I can and enjoy it,” he said. “Most of all I've had a great career, and this is where it all started, and this is where it will finish.”

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Country Grammer Wins San Antonio With Authority

Country Grammer, reunited with Frankie Dettori for the first time since winning the G1 Dubai World Cup in March, strode home an easy winner of the GII San Antonio S. at Santa Anita Monday. Sent off the 3-5 favorite, Country Grammer was hustled from his outside post by Dettori, but was unable to match the speed of his inside rivals and was caught four wide into the first turn as Hopkins (Quality Road) took the early lead and was in front through fractions of :22.76 and :46.16. Country Grammar rolled up three wide into the far turn and grabbed the lead into the stretch before bursting clear to an easy victory.

“I'm spending the winter here and on day one riding here, on one of the best horses in the world, the pressure was on,” Dettori admitted. “I felt it but the horse was in great form, and I was able to enjoy the scream of the crowd and it is nice to be back at Santa Anita. What a place! What a crowd, it's amazing.”

Dettori has announced 2023 will be his final year in the saddle.

“Thirty five years went like a flash,” the Italian said. “I've got to make these last 12 months the best that I can and enjoy it. Most of all I've had a great career, and this is where it all started, and this is where it will finish.”

Country Grammer, purchased as a 4-year-old by WinStar Farm from the dispersal of the late Paul Pompa for $110,000 at the 2021 Keeneland January sale, ended his 2021 campaign with a win in May 31 GI Hollywood Gold Cup. He resurfaced nine months later to finish second in the Feb. 26 G1 Saudi Cup and went one better in the World Cup at Meydan a month later. The 5-year-old returned stateside to be second in the July 30 GII San Diego H. and was beaten 19 lengths when second behind Flightline (Tapit) in the Sept. 3 GI TVG Pacific Classic. He was making his first start since finishing second in the Oct. 1GI Aweso me Again S.

“This horse is training better than he ever has, and he likes a deeper racetrack,” winning trainer Bob Baffert said. “This horse has brought us so much joy when things were down. He always shows up. It was nice of Frankie Dettori to win one like that. He's such a great rider, and it's his last year to be part of it. I'm just blessed the owners gave me the horse to train, and I have a great staff backing me.”

Pedigree Notes:

Arabian Song, in foal to Wicked Strong, sold for $5,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November sale and was exported to Saudi Arabia. She has a 3-year-old filly by that sire racing in Saudi Arabia and has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Saint Anddan. Under Country Grammar's third dam, Willstar, is Group 1 winner Etoile Montante (Miswaki), as well as the dams of Grade I winner Obligatory (Curlin) and multiple graded winner Bonny South (Munnings).

Monday, Santa Anita
SAN ANTONIO S.-GII, $200,500, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:43.45, ft.
1–COUNTRY GRAMMER, 123, h, 5, by Tonalist
                1st Dam: Arabian Song, by Forestry
                2nd Dam: Prima Centauri, by Distant View
                3rd Dam: Willstar, by Nureyev
($60,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $450,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR; $110,000
4yo '21 KEEJAN). O-Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, LLC,
Winstar Farm LLC and Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Scott
& Debbie Pierce (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Lanfranco Dettori.
$120,000. Lifetime Record: 14-5-5-1, $11,277,320. *1/2 to
Joyful Cadence (Runhappy), SW & MGSP, $546,155. Werk Nick
   Rating: A+. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
   Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Stilleto Boy, 123, g, 4, Shackleford–Rosie's Ransom, by
Marquetry. ($420,000 3yo '21 FTKHRA). O-Steve Moger;
B-John & Iveta Kerber (KY); T-Ed Moger, Jr. $40,000.
3–Heywoods Beach, 123, h, 5, Speightstown–Unfold the Rose,
by Catienus. ($150,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $190,000 RNA 2yo '19
FTFMAR; $180,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-Hronis Racing LLC;
B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-John W. Sadler. $24,000.
Margins: 4HF, 3HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.60, 5.00, 9.30.
Also Ran: Breakfast Ride, Hudson Ridge, Hopkins.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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