Pedigree profile: Newgate

It’s taken a while for Newgate to find his best stride, but the bay colt took a big step forward when rallying to a determined victory in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita.

Newgate’s last-to-first surge to win by a neck ended a four-race losing streak encompassing such high-profile contests as the Del Mar Futurity (G1), Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and Sham (G3). Newgate is currently ineligible to compete in the Kentucky Derby (G1) since trainer Bob Baffert is suspended from starting horses in the 2023 Derby, but winning the Lewis in a quick time stamps Newgate as a viable contender for races like the Preakness (G1) and Belmont (G1).

The bigger question is whether Newgate has the pedigree to succeed over classic distances. There’s not necessarily a clear-cut answer, because there are mixed signals to interpret.

Newgate is a son of Into Mischief, North America’s leading sire every year since 2019. Into Mischief nabbed his signature victory in the 1 1/16-mile CashCall Futurity (G1) and later ran second in the seven-furlong Malibu (G1), establishing his credentials as a sprinter/miler. His best runners at stud have mostly followed suit, but this tendency isn’t exclusive; Into Mischief is also the sire of Kentucky Derby winners Authentic (2020) and Mandaloun (2021).

The bottom half of Newgate’s pedigree paints a similar picture. Newgate’s dam is Majestic Presence, a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) participant who did her best work racing 1 1/16 miles. Her first winning foal, Just Like This, scored her lone victory thus far sprinting six furlongs.

Majestic Presence is a daughter of Majestic Warrior, a capable sprinter who won the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) as a juvenile. On one hand, Majestic Warrior’s sprinting prowess isn’t surprising since his dam, Dream Supreme, was a multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter. But Majestic Warrior’s sire is Belmont winner A.P. Indy (a renowned source of stamina), and his dam sire is Super Derby (G1) winner Seeking the Gold, so Majestic Warrior’s pedigree is actually quite stout.

This stamina has come through in Majestic Warrior’s stud record. He’s the sire of Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Princess of Sylmar and the remarkably long-winded Lone Rock, who has won half a dozen stakes over distances from 1 1/2 miles to 1 3/4 miles. All told, Majestic Warrior’s progeny win at an average distance of 7.1 furlongs, definitely not the rating of a pure speed sire.

Any handicapper glancing quickly at Newgate’s pedigree might see the cross of Into Mischief (an early-maturing sprinter/miler) and Majestic Warrior (an early-maturing sprinter) and assume racing 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May is out of reach. But digging deeper into the stud records of Into Mischief and Majestic Warrior, we can see potential (if not a promise) for success over classic distances.