Multiple grade 1 winners Accelerate and West Coast are set to face off in the US$300,000 Gr.1 Awesome Again Stakes. While the former is in top form the other may need this race to take him to his peak form.
According to West Coast's trainer, Bob Baffert, West Coast last raced March 31, when he finished second in the Gr.1 Dubai World Cup and he's been training steadily for his return but unless he races nobody will know if he's ready for his next challenge.
If he comes back as strong as when he left, then this horse could make a major impact at the Breeders’ Cup.
Both are out to stake a claim on the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Classic berth. Prime Attraction also ran behind the John Sadler-trained Accelerate in the Santa Anita Handicap. And in general he has hit the board in three of four starts but has failed to win. He may be classified a wild card but could land in the superfecta with ease.
After struggling to begin 2018, The Lieutenant has found some decent form lately and enters this race doing very well.
New challengers in the sixhorse field include Isotherm, who is winless in eight starts since he won the Gr.2 San Marcos Stakes (2017), and last-out E.B. Johnston Stakes winner Shades of Victory may be out classed in this august company.
Click here to Watch Mubtaahij Win The Awesome Again Stakes (2017)
1st Mubtaahij (B. Baffert, D. Van Dyke), 2nd Midnight Storm (P. D'Amato, T. Baze), 3rd Win The Space (G.Papaprodromou, J. Talamo), 4th Cupid (B. Baffert,R. Bejarano), 5th Breaking Lucky (R. Baker, M. Smith), 6th Curlin Rules (J. Sadler, F. Prat),7th Donworth (D. O'Neill, M. Gutierrez)
1. Shades Of Victory (R. Saldana,M. Pedroza), 2. Isotherm (P. D'Amato,G. Franco), 3. Prime Attraction (J. Cassidy,K. Desormeaux), 4. The Lieutenant (M. McCarthy,F. Prat), 5. West Coast (B. Baffert,M. Smith), 6.Accelerate (J. Sadler,J. Rosario)
Credit: Ritesh Jamkhedkar ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com