West Will Power leaves Art Collector in his wake in New Orleans Classic
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When they swung for home Saturday in the New Orleans Classic, the stage was set for a stretch battle between West Will Power and heavily favored Art Collector – but it never happened.
West Will Power sped away from Art Collector and five other older horses in a thoroughly dominant performance in the 98th running of the Grade 2, $490,000 New Orleans Classic on the Louisiana Derby card Saturday at Fair Grounds.
“Big performance,” said Brad Cox, the trainer of West Will Power for owner-breeders Gary and Mary West, who were in attendance. “When he comes to run, he’ll give you a big number.”
Getting a perfectly judged ride from Flavien Prat, West Will Power laid just off the flank of the pace-setting longshot Treasury as the 1 1/8-mile race unfolded. Meanwhile, Art Collector and jockey Junior Alvarado were hemmed in along the rail just behind them. Alvarado found a seam to make his move while racing past the quarter pole, but there was nothing doing. West Will Power drew off with authority, winning by 4 3/4 lengths when finishing in 1:47.95 over a fast track and getting a 109 Beyer Speed Figure. He paid $7.20 as second choice.
“We got good position early,” said Prat. “He was traveling really well all the way around, and he really kicked home well when I asked him to make a move.”
Art Collector, the 4-5 favorite, was able to fend off Mr. Wireless by three-quarters of a length for second – but there can be little doubt his reign as the No. 1-rated horse atop the weekly Top Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the NTRA is over. Art Collector had held that spot ever since his resounding victory in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.
West Will Power, just like Art Collector, is a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred horse by Bernardini. He now has six wins, seven seconds, and $1,086,730 in earnings from 15 starts, with his most notable prior victory coming last fall in the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland.
After the top three, the order of finish was Rattle N Roll, Happy American, Pioneer of Medina, and Treasury. Trafalgar was an early scratch.
The $2 exacta (3-2) paid $15.60, the $1 trifecta (3-2-7) returned $24.90, and the 10-cent superfecta (3-2-7-5) was worth $7.23.
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