Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who captured the inaugural GI Pegasus World Cup in 2017 with North American all-time leading money-earner Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), sent out the pair of MGISW West Coast (Flatter) and GISW Collected (City Zip) to post their final workouts ahead of the 2018 Pegasus Sunday morning. West Coast, considered the favorite to land the Eclipse Award as 2017's champion sophomore male, worked five furlongs in 1:00 flat in company with stablemate Coil's Gold (Coil). Collected, meanwhile, covered four furlongs in :46.20 with workmate Power Cat.
“West Coast went really well,” Baffert said after the drill. “He's coming into the race without any bumps in the road, like any other big race. I'm pretty happy.”
As for Collected, Baffert said he is encouraged by the way the 5-year-old has bounced back from a disappointing third-place finish behind Pegasus rival Giant Expectations (Frost Giant) in the Dec. 26 GII San Antonio S., noting, “He'll be ready.”
Also on Sunday morning, Charles Fipke's GI Clark H. winner Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) had his final tune-up before the $16-million Pegasus, working a half-mile in :48 3/5 under exercise rider Emerson Chavez at the Fair Grounds.
“It was the last work before the big race, so he did a nice sharp work,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “He came back in good shape. Looks good, and we're very happy.”
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