West Coast returns to work tab at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. - West Coast, last year's champion male 3-year-old who has been away from the races since running second nearly five months ago in the Dubai World Cup, took his first significant step toward a return to action with a half-mile work Tuesday morning at Del Mar, his first drill since returning to training following an extended freshening.

West Coast was scheduled to go three furlongs, which he did in 36 seconds after breaking off at the three-furlong pole, but after galloping out a full furlong past the wire clockers amended his work time to 48.80 for a half-mile. Drayden Van Dyke was up. Considering the way he went, it would not be surprising to see him come around quickly for a comeback race.

West Coast has made just two starts this year. He was second in the Pegasus World Cup in January, then second in the Dubai World Cup on March 31.

"When he came back from Dubai, he looked like a tired horse," trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday morning. "He hadn't had a break. We freshened him up, gave him 60 days. Now he looks bigger and stronger than before."

West Coast had been galloping on a daily basis at Los Alamitos in recent weeks before coming to Del Mar.

West Coast was third in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic following successive Grade 1 wins in the Travers Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby.