‘He Showed Guts’: O’Neill-Trained Tall Boy Breaks Maiden In UAE 2,000 Guineas

A compelling edition of the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan on Friday saw Tall Boy, a maiden but fourth in a Grade 2 in California, face Shirl's Bee, believed to be one of the best 3-year-olds ever trained by Doug Watson.

A battle ensued between these two rivals in the straight, with Shirl's Bee and Pat Dobbs fighting hard along the rail but eventually having to concede defeat by a length to the more experienced Tall Boy and William Buick. It was a second UAE 2,000 Guineas for winning trainer Doug O'Neill, also successful in 2020 with Fore Left.

“We were going a good pace and I didn't expect to be where I was, as he struggled for pace early in America,” said Buick, winning this race for a third time. “He showed guts, good attitude and I expect connections will have one eye on the UAE Derby after that. Once we turned into the straight I felt him grow an inch and he gave me plenty in response.”

Bred in Kentucky by Rockingham Ranch, Tall Boy is out of the unraced Scat Daddy mare Madame Mayra. Calumet Farm purchased Tall Boy as a weanling at the Keeneland November sale for $40,000.

For O'Neill, Tall Boy made four starts in the United States, his best finish a second-place effort in an $80,000 maiden claimer at Del Mar. He also finished fourth in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity.

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Newgate Hurt, Off Derby Trail

'TDN Rising Star' Newgate (Into Mischief), the winner of last Saturday's GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita under Frankie Dettori, has been diagnosed with a minor hock issue that will prevent him from making a start in the GI Kentucky Derby.

The news of the injury was announced on Twitter early Friday by Tom Ryan, the managing partner of one of the colt's owners, SF Racing LLC.

“His prognosis to return is excellent,” Ryan wrote. “We look forward to seeing him back this summer.”

Ryan also wrote that veterinarians have recommended 60 to 90 days off for Newgate before he resumes training.

The setback may mean that Dettori will not have a Kentucky Derby mount. When announcing his decision to ride at the current meet at Santa Anita, Dettori said that one of the reasons he came to Southern California was that the move gave him a chance to pick up a Derby contender. He has only ridden in the race once, in 2000.

Dettori is the regular rider of the once-beaten G1 Darley Dewhurst S. winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a top contender for the G1 2000 Guineas, also run on the first Saturday in May.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Newgate only broke his maiden in three tries as a 2-year-old, but has improved this year to the point where he was considered by most to be among the leading contenders for the Derby. He finished second in the GIII Sham S. and then won the Lewis by a neck over stablemate Hard to Figure (Hard Spun), earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Lewis Winner Newgate Off Derby Trail With ‘Minor Hock Issue’

A determined winner of the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 4, Newgate has since been diagnosed with a “minor hock issue” that will require 60 to 90 days before the colt is able to resume training. Co-owner SF Racing's Tom Ryan announced the new on Twitter Friday, also sharing that Newgate's prognosis to return to racing is “excellent.”

Guided to victory by Frankie Dettori, Newgate won the Lewis by a neck over stablemate Hard to Figure. His final time for 1 1/16 miles on a track rated fast was recorded as 1:43.11.

Newgate, a son of Into Mischief who commanded $850,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling sale, has won two of his six career starts for earnings of $241,975. He was second by a neck in the G3 Sham Stakes on Jan. 9, and second in the G3 Bob Hope Stakes in the final start of his 2-year-old season.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Newgate was ineligible for Kentucky Derby points in the Lewis. Were it not for the suspension against Baffert by Churchill Downs, the win would have earned Newgate 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

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Multiple Stakes Winner Passarando Tops Field Of Eight In El Camino Real Derby

A field of eight has been assembled for the 2023 edition of the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby for 3-years-old at 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta main track at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, Calif. The winner of the El Camino Real Derby receives a free berth into the 2023 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, and 10 Kentucky Derby points if eligible to receive said points.

Trainer Bob Baffert won the 2022 El Camino Real Derby with Blackadder. This year, the Hall of Fame conditioner sends out a pair of contenders in Gilmore and Nullarbor. Gilmore, a $250,000 sale purchase by Twirling Candy, was last seen breaking his maiden in a one-mile dirt race on Dec. 10 at Los Alamitos. Nullarbor, a son of Candy Ride acquired as a yearling for $500,000, was a decisive sprint winner on Jan. 6 at Santa Anita. Both Baffert contenders are owned by a large group that includes SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables LLC. Jose Valdivia Jr. rides Gilmore while Assael Espinoza has the call aboard Nullarbor.

Prominent owner/breeders Larry and Marianne Williams campaign multiple stakes winning gelding Passarando. As a 2-year-old last fall, the son of Tamarando was victorious in the Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita and the Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate. In his most recent afternoon appearance, Passarando finished third in the California Cup Derby. Veteran rider Frank Alvarado will be in the saddle for the first time for trainer Steve Specht.

Chase the Chaos has only improved since moving to the Tapeta and trained Ed Moger Jr.'s barn last fall. The Pennsylvania-bred by Astern finished as the runner up behind Passarando in the Gold Rush Stakes and returned in his first start of 2023 to score a smashing 7 1/2-length runaway victory against first level allowance foes. Regular rider Armando Ayuso retains the mount for owners Bill Dory and Adam Ference.

Happy Does is another legit contender. Bred by owners Gray Farms Inc., the dark bay colt has wracked off a pair of first level allowance victories in recent starts and bumps up in class for his first try against stakes competition. Trainer Felix Rondan and jockey Santos Rivera team up with the gelding son of Southern Image.

Harcyn makes his route debut for trainer Steve Sherman and owner/breeder Jerry Moss after a pair of convincing sprint victories. In each race, Harcyn went to the lead and hit the wire three- and three-quarter lengths ahead of the runner up finisher. Bay Area mainstay William Antongeorgi III has been atop the son of Goldencents in both lifetime starts and has the call in the 2023 El Camino Real Derby.

Sea Dog finished third behind Happy Does, only beaten a length and a quarter, in a Jan. 21 allowance race and faces the toughest field of his career. In Honor of Autism makes his route debut after a pair of sprint wins against starter allowance company and rounds out the field.

Nine races comprise the El Camino Real Derby card. First post is 1:15 PM PT. The El Camino Real Derby goes as the eighth race on the program, with post time at approximately 4:45 PM.

$100,000 El Camino Real Derby of 2023 (Race 8 on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 9 furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Gilmore (Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr…Trainer Bob Baffert)

#2 Chase the Chaos (Armando Ayuso…Ed Moger Jr.)

#3 Happy Does (Santos Rivera…Felix Rondan)

#4 Passarando (Frank Alvarado…Steve Specht)

#5 Harcyn (William Antongeorgi III…Steve Sherman)

#6 In Honor of Autism (Evin Roman…Jonathan Wong)

#7 Sea Dog (Francisco Monroy…O.J. Jauregui)

#8 Nullarbor (Assael Espinoza…Bob Baffert)

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