Baffert plans to have three in Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. - West Coast had everything his way when he won a maiden race at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on March 12.

He will not have such an easy time in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. West Coast is one of three runners for trainer Bob Baffert in the $1 million race at 1 1/8 miles, a key prep for the Triple Crown.

West Coast was 1-20 when he beat maidens by 3 1/4 lengths, but has much to prove in the Santa Anita Derby. West Coast worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 Sunday at Santa Anita, but failed to catch stablemate Irish Freedom in a tandem workout.

West Coast started several lengths behind Irish Freedom and finished about 1 1/2 lengths behind the rival. Irish Freedom was given a six-furlong time of 1:12.20, the fastest of 10 recorded works at the distance. West Coast’s time equaled the third-fastest of 45 works at five furlongs.

“The track is really deep and slow,” Baffert said.

West Coast is owned by Gary and Mary West and was purchased for $425,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. By Flatter, West Coast was second in a maiden race at a mile Feb. 18 in his debut before winning on March 12.

Baffert plans to have three runners in the Santa Anita Derby, which had 12 probable starters as of Sunday. He plans to run American Anthem, who was second in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes to Gormley in January, but 10th in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 18; and Reach the World, who was a game second to Battle of Midway in an optional claimer March 9.

Battle of Midway and Gormley are probable starters for the Santa Anita Derby along with Iliad, Kimbear, Midnight Pleasure, Milton Freewater, Royal Mo, So Conflated, and Term of Art. Gormley worked six furlongs in 1:14 on Sunday.

Gormley finished fourth in the San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 11. Trainer John Shirreffs said Royal Mo’s participation depends on how he works Monday.

If all 12 start, the Santa Anita Derby will have its largest field since 13 ran in 1981. The race had 10 starters in 2009, the most recent with a double-digit field.