Baffert's Bronze Age joins Triple Crown trail

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bronze Age is the latest 3-year-old to join the list of Triple Crown prospects for trainer Bob Baffert.

Bronze Age won his debut at a mile, and third career start, with a convincing 1 1/2-length victory in 1:35.29 Saturday at Santa Anita. He beat two well-regarded Baffert-trained prospects in West Coast, who had his career debut Saturday and finished with interest, and Glacier, who was a well-beaten third.

Bronze Age, a Mineshaft colt purchased for $600,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale of 2-year-olds in-training last year, was eighth and sixth in sprints in late December and late January. In both races, he disputed the pace and faded through the stretch.

In Saturday’s race, Bronze Age did not stop. He led by four lengths at the eighth pole after setting the pace.

“He’s been wanting to go long,” Baffert said. “We’re really high on him.”

Bronze Age earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93, two points higher than West Coast.

Bronze Age is owned by Juddmonte Farms. West Coast, a colt by Flatter, races for Gary and Mary West. West Coast was purchased for $425,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The colt is out of Caressing, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2000.

Glacier, a colt by Broken Vow, is winless in four starts and has been third in three consecutive starts for Baffert. Glacier, owned by Breeze Easy LLC, was seventh in his debut at Churchill Downs last September when trained by Troy Wismer.

Glacier was purchased for $1.2 million at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training last April, the most expensive hip, and the only seven-figure purchase, of the four-day sale.

Bronze Age, West Coast, and Glacier are nominated for the Triple Crown.

“Right now, it’s important to get some races into them,” Baffert said. “They develop on their own.”