Celtic New Year celebrated in Del Mar ‘Cap

The improving Celtic New Year repelled Bourbon Bay (Benoit Photos) Michael Jawl’s CELTIC NEW YEAR (North Light [Ire]) was able to fight off odds-on favorite Bourbon Bay (Sligo Bay [Ire]) to win Sunday’s $200,000 Del Mar H. (G2) by a head, marking the first stakes victory of the John Sadler trainee’s career. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Celtic New Year went 1 3/8 miles over the firm Del Mar turf in 2:14 4/5. Make Music for Me (Bernstein) started off in the lead, and held it through the opening quarter in :25, the half in :49 4/5 and three-quarter mark in :1:15, before giving way to Soul Candy (Birdonthewire) at the mile mark in 1:39. Soul Candy did not hold on for long, as Celtic New Year marched his way into first with Bourbon Bay and Imponente Purse (Brz) (Public Purse) challenging. Celtic New Year was able to hold them off to move his earnings to $294,422 and improve his career mark to 17-5-1-5.

The 9-2 third choice, Celtic New Year returned $11, $4.20 and $2.80. Bourbon Bay finished second with Imponente Purse third. Make Music
for Me,
Soul Candy and Medici Code (GB) (Medicean [GB]) rounded out the order of finish.

Celtic New Year was in good form in his previous three outings, finishing
third in the San Juan Capistrano H. (G2) at Santa Anita, second in the Charles
Whittingham Memorial H. (G1) at Hollywood, and most recently a third in the
Sunset H. (G3) also at Hollywood.

“We got him here in California and he just started to come around and got
better as the year went on,” Sadler said. “We thought he was a good third in the
San Juan Capistrano and we thought he was a very good (second) in
the Whittingham. We were favored in the Sunset and he ran third, but he has
proven himself to be a very good horse in these distance races.”

“I was down there inside and I thought I was going to get through,” Espinoza
said. “I always think I’m going to get through. I did and this horse fired. He
has just been getting better. Every time I ride him he’s better. I worked him a
mile the other day (August 22) and he felt great. I had a lot of confidence
today. I knew he was going to run big. And he did.”

Bred in Kentucky by Adena Springs, Celtic New Year is out of the winning
Dynaformer mare
Reggae Queen, who is a half-sister to 2000 champion turf mare Perfect Sting (Red
Ransom). The
second dam is stakes winner Valid Victress (Valid Appeal), who is out of multiple stakes
winner Grecian Victory (Dr. Fager). Further back one can find Grade 1 winner Greek Answer
(Northern Answer), Group 3 victor Lawmaker (Round Table) and Group 3-placed
listed scorer Greek Sky (Nijinsky II). Celtic New Year is the last foal
registered from Reggae Queen.

“The ‘Win and You’re In’ makes a difference,” Sadler said. “Because it’s
$90,000. We’ll go on to Oak Tree and then the Breeders’ Cup (Turf [G1]).”