Pandagate takes New York Derby in return

Pandagate, off since a gallant third behind Japanese sensation Forever Young in the Grade 2 UAE Derby in late March, showed no signs of rust in his return to the races with a victory in Monday’s $159,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes.

Pandagate and jockey Dylan Davis made a wide sweep – out at least six paths off the rail – around the far turn en route to a three-quarter-length victory over 4-5 favorite and recent Mike Lee Stakes winner Doc Sullivan. Owned by Adelphi Racing Club, Madaket Stables, Corms Racing Stable and On The Rise Again Stable and trained by Christophe Clement, Pandagate improved to 3-for-5 with the victory.

A son of the late Arrogate bred by Fred Hertrich III, Pandagate was purchased by his trainer for $130,000 out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. He won two of his first three starts, including the Gander Stakes over Doc Sullivan, before his sojourn to the Middle East.

Pandagate finished third in the $1 million UAE Derby, beaten 6 3/4 lengths by eventual Kentucky Derby third-place finisher and multiple stakes winner Forever Young.

Back with New York-bred company off a string of five works in June and July at Belmont Park, Pandagate went off as the 6-5 second choice in the New York Derby.

Davis was content to led Pandagate race in fifth through the opening half-mile, with local longshot Skyler’s Starship clicking off splits of :24.66 and :49.38. Doc Sullivan, the winner of his last two including a 4-lengths score in the slop in the Mike Lee June 9 at Saratoga, took up the immediate chase behind the leader with Elysian Meadows and Aggelos the Great in close contention.

Skyler’s Starship continued to lead around the far turn as Doc Sullivan and Aggelos the Great ranged up to his outside through 6 furlongs in 1:14.27. Davis tipped Pandagate to the outside midway on the bend, the grey ridgling accelerated past rivals and put away Doc Sullivan in the stretch to win in 1:45.63 over the fast track. Doc Sullivan finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of the 33-1 Skyler’s Starship, who edged Elysian Meadows by a neck for third.

Pandagate, who picked up $95,400 to boost his earnings to $297,050, is the fifth foal out of the stakes-placed Sky Mesa mare Kitty Panda. A homebred for Oak Bluff Stables and Clement, Kitty Panda won two of nine starts and finished third in the 2013 Bouwerie Stakes.

Hertrich purchased Kitty Panda in foal to Blame for $160,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February mixed sale. Pandagate is one of three New York-bred winners out of Kitty Panda, who is also the dam of three-time winner and $151,380-earner Panster and the two-time winner Countable. Kitty Panda is also the dam of an unnamed Kentucky-bred 2-year-old colt by City of Light.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/07/15/pandagate-takes-new-york-derby-in-return/

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