Azul Coast Makes the Grade in Native Diver
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Azul Coast wins the Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar
Azul Coast broke through at the graded level Nov. 20 in the $100,500 Native Diver Stakes (G3), turning back Kiss Today Goodbye and even-money favorite Eight Rings to get the victory at Del Mar.
Dropped down after fading to seventh of eight in the Oct. 2 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, the 4-year-old Super Saver colt returned to the winning ways that saw him take an Aug. 22 allowance-level event at Del Mar. With Flavien Prat in the irons from post 3 in a field scratched down to six, he closed from last with a sustained rally to engage fellow Bob Baffert trainees Ax Man and Eight Rings off the turn for home.
"We were in a good spot for the whole trip," Prat said. "I could tell the pace was only moderate, so I moved him up closer near the three-eighths (pole). Then when we went we were in good position and he was ready. A good win."
Ax Man, who led the way through an opening quarter in :23.74 and a half in :48.41, had Eight Rings pressing the pace throughout. As three-quarters went in 1:13.18, Azul Coast commenced the outside move that carried him into striking position through a 1:38.19 mile.
"Once he got to the quarter pole and he was making his move, I started feeling halfway positive," said Karl Watson, who owns the colt with longtime partners Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman. "It looked like the last 50 yards, Prat was going to bring him home."
Azul Coast crossed the wire in a final time of 1:50.55 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track, with Kiss Today Goodbye closing to settle for the runner-up spot half a length back. After Eight Rings in third came Bal Harbour , Ax Man, and Established . Midcourt and Wicked Trick were scratched.
"'Azul' runs his best races down here," Baffert said. "He likes this track and he ran really impressive. When I ran him in the Awesome Again he just laid an egg, he was up there close and I was really disappointed, but he was chasing Medina Spirit .
"I had no idea how (the race) would set up, they were all on their own. I told the jockeys, 'You guys ride your own races and hopefully we'll run 1-2-3.' I'm happy for the connections, the well has been a little dry lately. Main thing is that we got the 'W.'"
Azul Coast's connections enjoy the trophy presentation for the Native Diver Stakes
Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock out of the grade 2-winning Sky Mesa mare Sky Treasure , Azul Coast was a $320,000 purchase by his current connections from the Woods Edge consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He was obtained for $150,000 by Cavalier Bloodstock from Woodford Thoroughbreds' consignment to the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
After breaking his maiden at first asking in December of 2019 at Los Alamitos Race Course, Azul Coast ran second beaten 7 3/4 lengths in the Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita to none other than eventual 2020 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male Authentic . He won the El Camino Real Derby in February at Golden Gate Fields next out, but weakened to seventh and last in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) in June and went to the sideline until returning with back-to-back off the board efforts in the La Jolla Handicap (G3T) in August and the Tokyo City Cup Stakes (G3) in September. Put away again, the colt came back July 23 with a third in allowance-level company before a return trip to the winner's circle this August en route to his ambitious grade 1 attempt.
"He won (the El Camino Real Derby) up in Northern California and of course we got our sights set a little higher after that race," Watson said. "But you've got to be patient with them and they always have a way of surprising you, it seems like, one way or another."
Azul Coast's record now stands at 4-1-1 from 10 starts, with earnings of $221,280. He is the first foal out of his dam, who was purchased by SF Bloodstock and Newgate Farm from the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $360,000 when carrying Azul Coast in utero. The mare was exported to Australia in May of 2017, where her four following foals, all fillies, were produced. She dropped a daughter of Snitzel in 2021 and has an Exceed And Excel filly of 2020. Her Capitalist 2-year-old named Kiko was a $560,090 purchase by Nick Turnbull from Newgate's consignment to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January, and she has a 3-year-old by Capitalist named Williams Bay who has placed and run third in six starts.