Champion West Coast to Lane's End for 2019
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin
West Coast in the paddock at Gulfstream Park
West Coast , the champion 3-year-old male of 2017, will join the Lane's End stallion roster for 2019, the farm announced Oct. 3. A fee has not yet been announced.
The 4-year-old son of Flatter captured the Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) last year before running third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). West Coast won six of nine starts during his sophomore campaign to claim the Eclipse Award for his division.
Trained by Bob Baffert and campaigned by Gary and Mary West, West Coast has posted three runner-up efforts in 2018. After beginning his season with a second-place finish behind Horse of the Year Gun Runner in the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), the bay colt took place honors in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) and was most recently second to Accelerate in the Sept. 29 Awesome Again Stakes (G1).
"I shipped him four times, west to east and then to Dubai, and he ran a huge race every time." Baffert said. "He's been first or second in all but one start, never off the board, and won at five different tracks—all the while taking on and beating some of the best horses in the world. The good ones like him, they're just different."
Added Gary West: "After such a game runner-up effort in the Awesome Again coming off the layoff, I am enthusiastic about the upcoming Breeders' Cup Classic. Mary and I are hoping West Coast can prove once again that he's one of the pre-eminent classic horses in the country."
West Coast was purchased for $425,000 by agent Ben Glass from Hermitage Farm's consignment to the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred by CFP Thoroughbreds out of the Honour and Glory mare Caressing—the champion 2-year-old filly in 2000—he heads into his expected start in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Classic with six wins from 12 starts and $5,743,800 in earnings. He has placed in all of his starts.
"West Coast is a champion out of a champion. Not only has he proven that he's an exceptional racehorse, but he descends from the A. P. Indy sire line, out of a champion mare, picked out by a highly respected judge," said Will Farish of Lane's End. "He's a very exciting addition to our roster."