Order and Law, Azul Coast Throw Down in Tokyo City Cup

Order and Law  and Azul Coast —1-2 in the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II Stakes (G3) July 23 at Del Mar—battle over the same distance on dirt Oct. 1, this time at Santa Anita Park in the $100,000 Tokyo City Cup (G3).

Both horses have raced once in separate races since their Cougar II meeting, with Order and Law eased to finish last of nine in the Sept. 2 Pacific Classic (G1) and Azul Coast tiring to 11th in the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) that same afternoon on turf. 

Order and Law, claimed for $62,500 in May 2022 at Gulfstream Park by trainer Bob Hess Jr., is 1-1-2 in 10 starts for his current connections. The Violence   7-year-old races for owners Larry Buckendorf, Jeffrey Lambert, Lawrence Rodriguez, Paul Schneider, Peter Stotland, and Matthew White.

Azul Coast, a 6-year-old son of Super Saver   trained by Bob Baffert for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, is a dual stakes winner, having won the 2020 El Camino Real Derby on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields and the 2021 Native Diver Stakes (G3) on dirt at Del Mar. He was a distanced seventh in the 2020 Tokyo City Cup.

A Formidable Foe

• Missed the Cut  ran a close fourth in the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap. Earlier, in shorter races on dirt, he ran seventh in the July 29 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar and second in a June 11 allowance race at Santa Anita.