Pandagate wins New York Derby in first start since Dubai

Pandagate, unraced since finishing third behind Forever Young in the Group 2 UAE Derby on March 30, returned Monday to defeat New York-breds in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes.

Long shot Skyler’s Starship cleared to the lead in the first turn, with odds-on favorite Doc Sullivan tracking in closest range behind. Pandagate raced in second-last among the field of six early, but was never more than four lengths off the lead.

Doc Sullivan and Aggelos the Great bid outside of the pacesetter around the far turn. Meanwhile, past the three-eighths, jockey Dylan Davis got Pandagate moving.

Pandagate circled five deep into the lane and took the lead approaching midstretch. Doc Sullivan ran on to contend to the wire, but Pandagate held him at bay, crossing the wire 3/4 length in front of the favorite.

It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to pacesetter Skyler’s Starship, who held show by a neck over Elysian Meadows. Aggelos the Great and Merlin’s Moment completed the order of finish.

Pandagate finished the 1 1/16 miles over fast dirt in 1:45.63 and paid his backers $4.70 to win. Trained by Christophe Clement for Adelphi Racing Club, Madaket Stables, Corms Racing Stable and On the Rise Again Stable, Pandagate is now 5: 3-0-2 with lifetime earnings of $297,050. He is by Arrogate out of the Sky Mesa mare Kitty Panda, a half sister to the dams of both 2018 Florida Derby (G1) winner Audible and 2016 Jim Dandy (G2) placegetter Governor Malibu.

Earlier in the card, Brad Cox trainee Caldwell Luvs Gold won the New York Oaks as the odds-on favorite, marking her first win since the Seeking the Ante at Saratoga last summer. The ninth and final race on the card, a claiming sprint for fillies and mares, was canceled due to a storm.