Azul Coast holds off Kiss Today Goodbye in Native Diver
DEL MAR, Calif. – The regard trainer Bob Baffert has for Azul Coast has been displayed by the spots he’s put him in, against Authentic early in his 3-year-old campaign, and Medina Spirit last time out in his third start as a 4-year-old.
Azul Coast has not been quite at that level, but he’s rock solid just below the top, and he showed that on Saturday at Del Mar by overcoming a wide trip to beat five others, including two stablemates, in the Grade 3, $100,500 Native Diver Stakes for older horses.
Azul Coast ($8.40), the second choice behind his even-money stablemate, Eight Rings, swooped the field on the far turn and then turned back a stretch bid from Kiss Today Goodbye to win the 1 1/8-mile race by a half-length.
Kiss Today Goodbye finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Eight Rings, who tired after pressing the pace of the third Baffert entrant, Ax Man.
Bal Harbour was fourth, then came Ax Man and Established, who was reported by the safety steward as having bled.
Midcourt and Wicked Trick both were withdrawn from the original field of eight.
Azul Coast covered nine furlongs on the fast main track in 1:50.55.
The win was Azul Coast’s fourth in 10 starts. His only previous stakes win came on Tapeta in the El Camino Real Derby in February 2020, in his third career start, just after he finished second to Authentic – who later won the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic – in the Grade 3 Sham.
After his form tailed off last year, Azul Coast was given a lengthy freshening before returning this summer at Del Mar, where he won a second-level allowance in his second start following a layoff. He subsequently was seventh of eight in the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita, won by Medina Spirit.
Flavien Prat, who rode him to the Del Mar victory, was back aboard Saturday.
“He ran his best race down here,” Baffert said. “I was really disappointed in his Awesome Again. Maybe he was too close to the pace. Today Prat got him back. Last time he was chasing Medina Spirit. I think we’re learning about him. I don’t think he wants to be close.”
Azul Coast was last and three paths wide around the first turn, and remained outside the rest of the way, rallying in the four path on the far turn. He overhauled Eight Rings passing the furlong pole, then turned back a serious late bid from Kiss Today Goodbye.
Azul Coast, 4, is by Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver out of the Sky Mesa mare Sky Treasure. He is owned by long-time partners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. He earned $60,000 on Saturday and now has career earnings of $221,280