Collected, West Coast on track for fall campaigns

DEL MAR Calif. – Collected and West Coast, second and third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar last November, are rejoining trainer Bob Baffert’s stable for autumn campaigns after being rested in Kentucky.

West Coast, the champion 3-year-old male of 2017, arrived at Baffert’s barn at Los Alamitos last week. Collected, unraced since finishing seventh in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January, is set to arrive at Del Mar next week, Baffert said.

Baffert said Collected has more of a foundation of recent training.

“Collected has done a lot,” he said. “He’s been at a training center.”

West Coast has not raced since finishing second in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in March. Owned by Gary and Mary West, West Coast was second in the Pegasus World Cup in January.

Collected, owned by Speedway Stables, won the Pacific Classic at Del Mar last August. He was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Gun Runner in the BC Classic. Collected was a finalist for the Eclipse Award for outstanding older male of 2017, an award that went to Gun Runner, who was also Horse of the Year.

Baffert is expected to have two runners in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles in Dabster and Dr. Dorr. The $200,000 San Diego Handicap is a prep for the $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 18.

The San Diego is expected to be led by Accelerate, the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup at Santa Anita earlier this year. Other probable runners are Catalina Cruiser, Curlin Rules, El Huerfano, Harlan Punch, Prince of Arabia, Sharp Samurai, and Two Thirty Five.

Saturday’s Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf had 13 probable starters as of Wednesday – Ahimsa, Animosity, Dulce Ride, Flammetta, Lexington Grace, Miss Sienna, Ms Bad Behavior, Ms Peintour, Ollie’s Candy, Pursuing the Dream, Rockin Ready, Streak of Luck, and West Palm Beach.

Dulce Ride, a maiden race winner on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in her California debut on June 10, was supplemented on Wednesday for $2,000. She is trained by Richard Baltas, who will also start Ms Bad Behavior and Flammetta.

Ollie’s Candy won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita in June in her stakes debut. The San Clemente will be her first start on turf.

◗ Lombo, the winner of the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in February, was recently transferred from Mike Pender to Phil D’Amato, the trainers said on Wednesday. Owned by Michael Lombardi, Lombo has not raced since finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on May 5. Lombo has won 2 of 6 starts and earned $132,570.