A trio of Bob Baffert-trained runners with near- and longer-term stakes objectives recorded strong workouts over the Santa Anita main track Wednesday morning.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum's Dabster (Curlin), who has crossed the line first in each of three career trips to the post, is penciled in for a run in the Dec. 26 GI Malibu S. and breezed five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.20, the same time awarded to his SW & MGSP workmate and stable companion Cat Burglar (Unbridled's Song).
A $430,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase turned $1-million Fasig-Tipton Florida breezer, Dabster was demoted to fourth from an apparent debut success at Santa Anita last Dec. 26, but has since returned to win two straight, including a Del Mar allowance over the Malibu's seven-furlong distance Nov. 3.
“He went nice,” Baffert said. “He's never been a real willing worker. He's just that way, but it was a good work.”
West Coast (Flatter), the GI Travers S. and GI Pennsylvania Derby hero and top candidate for the 3-year-old divisional championship, worked in the company of Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) and covered a half-mile in :47.80, the co-fastest of 35 moves at the distance. West Coast, a latest third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 4, is tentatively scheduled to train up to a rematch with Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27, as is his barnmate Collected (City Zip). The latter drilled seven furlongs in 1:25.20 Tuesday. Hoppertunity is likely for the Dec. 26 GII San Antonio S. and does not have a slot for the Pegasus.
Masochistic (Sought After), a new arrival into the Baffert barn, earned the five-furlong bullet after clocking a best-of-71 time of :58.40. The lightly raced Cal-bred is nominated to the GIII Midnight Lute S. Dec. 30, but Baffert has yet to commit him to the 6 1/2-furlong event.
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