West Coast rolls late to win the Los Alamitos Derby
West Coast provided the Bob Baffert barn with even more star power tonight when he came rolling past the field to win the $200,000 Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby. The 3-year-old colt by Flatter earned his first graded stakes victory in the mile and an eighth event, extending his win streak to three.
West Coast, off as the 2-5 favorite, broke from post five with Drayden Van Dyke in the irons. Cistron took command from the two-hole with Klimt, last year’s Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity winner, challenging him on the outside. Kimbear was able to save ground on the rail in third, while B Squared was on the outside of Klimt in fourth. Even wider was West Coast in fifth, followed by Colonist and Term of Art.
Cistron took the field through the first half-mile in fractions of :23.73 and :47.89, with Klimt close to his flank the whole time. As three-quarters went in 1:11.64, the seven-horse field prepared to battle down the homestretch. Kimbear tried to close in on the rail but was no factor. Cistron lost control of the lead as Klimt held on, but B Squared was beginning to make his move and looked threatening.
For a moment it looked like the favorite would not perform as expected. Colonist poked his head in front of West Coast for a moment, but then Van Dyke turned his mount loose. With the mile going in 1:36.40, West Coast came rolling on the outside, passing the five horses in front of him. He hit the wire in 1:48.65, winning by two and three-quarter lengths.
It was a blanket finish for second, third, and fourth. Klimt held on to place, B Squared got up for show, and Colonist closed for fourth. Cistron, Kimbear, and Term of Art completed the order of finish. Milton Freewater was scratched.
The victor paid $2.80, $2.20, and $2.10, while Klimt returned $4.60 and $3.40 at 7-1. B Squared, who went off at 12-1, delivered $3.60. Klimt made his 3-year-old debut with trainer Art Sherman in the Los Alamitos Derby, but was in the care of Baffert as a 2-year-old.
When asked about West Coast, winning jockey Van Dyke said, “I asked him a little on the turn and he wasn’t ready yet, but when we straightened for home and I hit him left handed, he cut like no other. He finished very strong.’’
Baffert already has a loaded barn featuring Arrogate, Abel Tasman, Mor Spirt, and American Anthem to name a few. If West Coast continues to blossom, he could be one of the more recognizable names.
“This horse is improving all the time,” said Baffert. “He’s starting to settle down. (Jockey Drayden Van Dyke) was instructed to wait, wait and wait with him. If you go too early with him, he doesn’t finish. It was sort of a gamble to sit back there, but it paid off because you need to be patient with him. He took off the last eighth of a mile. He needs to learn how to run like that. Mission accomplished.”
West Coast now has four wins and two seconds from six starts. The Los Alamitos Derby improved his earnings to $323,800. Bred by CFP Thoroughbreds LLC, West Coast was purchased by Gary and Mary West for $425,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
“He’s progressed in every race,” said Gary West. “(Baffert) said early on he was a very talented horse, but was going to need some time to develop. He’s been patient with him and the horse is really starting to come around and getting good right now.”
Baffert, who won last year’s Grade 1 Travers Stakes with Arrogate, has similar plans in mind for West Coast.
“We’ll look at the ($1.25 million) Travers (Aug. 26),” said Baffert. “A mile and a quarter should suit him. If he comes out of this race well and trains well, we’ll go (to Saratoga). I think it would be a good spot for him.”
By Christine Oser