West Coast romps in the Pennsylvania Derby

Bob Baffert didn’t mix words Saturday evening.

“We’ve waited a long time for a horse like this,” the silver-haired equine guru explained from the winners’ circle.

The Hall-of-Fame trainer was referring to his newest prodigy in West Coast, who romped a competitive field of 10 in the $1 million Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby for 3-year-old colts at Parx Racetrack in Bensalem, PA.

The son of Flatter, who most recently took the G1 Travers at Saratoga last month, followed up as a 3/5 post time favorite, finishing the 1 and 1/8 mile race at a final time of 1:49.91, topping second place finisher Irap by 7 1/4 lengths. 

“He’s a totally different horse then he was two months ago,” said Baffert, who last won the Pennsylvania Derby in 2014 with Bayern.  “He’s just getting bigger, and he’s growing into that big frame of his.  He’s stronger.  He doesn’t get tired.”

Tied with Always Dreaming as the only 3-year-old with multiple Grade 1 wins this season, West Coast never left much doubt, battling longshot Outplay to open the race—hitting a time of :23.20 at the first quarter pole—easing the pack, while keeping a consistent pace at the 3/4 pole at 1:11.18.  The California-based growing star then gained momentum, working two horses wide along the final turn and stretch, where the horse found a different gear, blazing to the wire, distancing Irap (Tiznow) and third place finisher Giuseppe the Great (Lookin At Lucky), who finished a distant 9-lengths behind.

“He is a really good horse,” said jockey Mike Smith, who has steered West Coast to a perfect 3-for-3 when paired, including the G1 Travers win.  “He is just better than they are right now, as far as 3-year-olds go.”

“He’s a big horse with the kind of run we knew he had in him,” said owner Gary West.  “Obviously, Bob has done a great job with him, getting him to the point where he is now, winning races against some really good horses like this.  He’s a really strong horse.”

In the field included the once-promising pacesetter Irish War Cry (Curlin), who chose to come off the pace Saturday, but never managed to close, drifting back to a dismal 7th place. 

The lifetime winner of $1,543,800, a Kentucky-bred graduate of CFP Thoroughbreds LLC, only made a second appearance on the East Coast due to West’s wishes.

“It was all him,” said Baffert.  “Mr. West, it was his idea to come here and run him here.”

With the win, not only is West Coast considered a top candidate for an Eclipse award in the 3-year-old division, but a potential applicant for either the Breeders’ Cup Classic or the Dirt Mile at Del Mar in November.

“If I was a voter, I would (pick him), but my opinion means nothing,” said a fatuous Baffert. 

The trainer continued about a potential run in the Breeders’ Cup, and the idea that Mike Smith could still be aboard the horse in the event that Arrogate does not run.

“We’re not even sure Arrogate’s running yet.  He’s going to really have to turn it around,” said Baffert.  “That’s a long way off and we’re not even thinking about that yet. 

“We’ll get (West Coast) back to Santa Anita and see how he’s training and how everything goes.  Like I said, it’s a long way off, so we’ll think about it.  I don’t want to say no or yes.”

West Coast has now won five in a row, including wins in the G3 Los Alamitos Derby and the Easy Goer at Belmont. 

Injury Update

Irap had a brutal finish to the race, nearly breaking down after the wire.  After minutes of evaluation, the Reddam Racing colt was taken off the track via ambulance, with an apparent lateral sesamoid fracture on his left-front leg.

“They stabilized the ankle with a splint and the horse is going back to the barn to get the proper x-rays and evaluation from their veterinarian,” said AAEP Veterinarian Doctor Celeste Kunz, who was on-scene responding to Irap.  “This is a very serious injury and maybe a life-threatening one.”

The final price

West Coast came in officially as a 0.90 odds-on-favorite, paying $3.80, $2.40, $2.20 across the board, while second-place finisher Irap paid $3.40, and Giuseppe the Great rounding off the board at $6.40.  The $2 exacta paid $12.60, with the $0.50 trifecta paying $33.60.