The 2022 racing season at Santa Anita kicked off with Bob Baffert winning his third straight Sham S. (G3) on New Year’s Day as the speedy Newgrange tallied a 2 ¾-length win in the one-mile contest.

The 3-year-old colt was making his stakes debut after winning his lone previous start in a Nov. 28 Del Mar maiden race. Newgrange and jockey John Velazquez went to the front, with stablemate Rockefeller pressing to his outside. After a leisurely half-mile in :48.94, Newgrange began to edge away from the field. He was up two lengths coming into the stretch and widened late as Rockefeller held the place spot.

“He looked good,” said Baffert. “He had been training really well and working together with Rockefeller.  The quality is there.  I’m happy we have a great team and we are moving forward with him.”

The winning owners are Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables LLC, SF Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Starlight Racing, Stonestreet Stables, LLC, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, Robert E. Masterson, and Jay A.  Schoenfarber. Newgrange has earned $102,000 in his two wins.

Baffert has now won a record eight runnings of the Sham, dating back to the inaugural edition in 2001 with Wild and Wise. His 2020 winner Authentic would go on to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and be named Horse of the Year.