West Will Power Dominates in New Orleans Classic
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
West Will Power pulls away in the New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds
Veteran West Will Power registered an impressive victory March 25 when he drew off in the stretch to post a 4 3/4-length score in the $490,000 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots.
A homebred for Gary and Mary West, West Will Power previously earned a graded win in October when he delivered a 6 3/4-length victory in the Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. He posted a similarly decisive victory Saturday in an effort flattered by the fact that Art Collector , who tops the current NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll off his season-opening victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), chased him home.
While West Will Power had led through the first or second call of his past four races, the son of Bernardini rated just a bit Saturday, tracking longshot Treasury through a quarter-mile in :23.55, a half-mile in :47.30, and six furlongs in 1:11.74. Art Collector, off a beat slowly and in traffic early, rated just behind those two, in fourth and then third while saving ground under Junior Alvarado.
As West Will Power responded when Flavien Prat asked for more three furlongs from home, Art Collector searched for running room as a rally Mr. Wireless advanced to his outside. West Will Power would take advantage of the jump, quickly opening up and he would not be challenged in the stretch. Art Collector, a homebred for Bruce Lunsford, soon a seam in the stretch and had enough to hold off the late charge of Mr. Wireless for second.
Trained by Brad Cox, West Will Power completed the 1 1/8-mile test for older horses in 1:47.95. He paid $7.20 to win.
The result ended a two-race stretch in which West Will Power raced well but settled for second each time. He closed out 2022 with a runner-up finish to Proxy in the Clark Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs and opened 2023 with a second to Last Samurai in the Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park.
Kentucky-bred West Will Power is one of five winners from as many starters out of grade 3 winner Wild Promises , by Wild Event .
Video: New Orleans Classic S. Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard (G2)