Big Names Drill at Santa Anita

[Wandering Eyes]

Three of the biggest names headed to the Nov. 3 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic–Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky), McKinzie (Street Sense) and West Coast (Flatter)–all put in serious preps for the race Sunday morning at Santa Anita. Bob Baffert’s pair of McKinzie and West Coast worked six and five furlongs, respectively. West Coast, champion 3-year-old of 2017 and recently second off an extended layoff behind Accelerate in the GI Awesome Again S. Sept. 29, worked five furlongs in company with Lookie Loo (Candy Ride {Arg}), stopping the clock in :59.40 with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:12 flat. McKinzie, meanwhile, went six furlongs in a bullet 1:12 flat–his first work since winning the Sept. 22 GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing.

“McKinzie went nice, I’m very happy with his work,” said Baffert.”He’s doing very well.”

Of West Coast, Baffert added, “He came out of [the Awesome Again] really well. I didn’t have a choice but to run him in the Awesome Again. I had to do something. I couldn’t just bring him up to that race on works. He’s happy and he’s training well.”

Accelerate covered four furlongs in :47.80 with a five-furlong gallop out in 1:01.20 for Sadler, who also sent out GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hopeful Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags) to work six furlongs in 1:12 flat and GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint contender Selcourt (Tiz Wonderful) to drill six furlongs in 1:12.80.

 

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