Westwood rolls in the G2 Westwood, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Westwood earned a breakthrough victory Saturday at Santa Anita when rolling to a gate-to-wire victory under Kazushi Kimura in the Grade II, $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes for older horses going 1 1/8 miles. It was the first stakes win for the 4-year-old gelding by Authentic.
Westwood (3-1), trained by John Shirreffs for owner C R K Stable, won comfortably by 2 lengths over Getaway Car (2-1). It was another 7 lengths back to Bartholdy (7-2) in third. Ghazaaly (16-1) and then 8-5 favorite Midnight Mammoth completed the order of finish. Westwood’s task in the San Pasqual was made much easier Saturday when Pony Express, the 8-5 program favorite trained by John Sadler, was scratched by veterinarians.
Racing without blinkers for the first time in his 10-race career, Westwood broke alertly from the outside post and quickly seized the lead from a fast-starting Getaway Car. Westwood proceeded to set fractions of 24.24, 48.42 and 1:12.32 for six furlongs while being stalked on either side by Bartholdy to his outside and Getaway Car to his inside. Entering the second turn, Getaway Car edged closer to Westwood, prompting Kimura to ask his mount for more. Westwood responded in kind, repelling the bid of Getaway Car and then continuing on to the wire to win in a time of 1:50.52.
“You ever hear or a horse that likes to pedal? He’s a good pedaler,” Sherriffs said “He likes a challenge. He likes to be asked and pushed along a little bit. Then when horses come to him he digs in. He’s not a horse that can drop back and make a big turn. He likes to be on the front-end and feel the pressure.”
This was Westwood’s fourth attempt at a stakes win. Last year, he was third in both GI Santa Anita Derby and GIII Native Diver at Del Mar, and fourth in the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita.
“It’s lovely for the horse and (owner) Mr. Searing, who supports the business so much.” Sherriffs said.
Kimura was riding Westwood for the first time. With the win, the 26-year-old native of Japan is now the leading jockey at the Classic Meet. The San Pasqual was also his fourth stakes victory at the stand.
“This race it seemed like everyone was possible to go the lead. It was just going to depend on how he broke today, racing without the blinkers,” Kimura said. “He broke well without blinkers. I thought why not go to the lead. He was comfortable and got in a nice rhythm. At the three-eighths when I asked him to pick it up–he’s a one-paced horse, so I was confident he would be able to keep going. I was already feeling pressure on the inside rail (from Getaway Car). I just tried not to let him pass and keep moving.”
Westwood improved to 10: 2-3-3 with more than $310,000 in earnings.
Westwood paid $8.40, $3.80 and $2.40. Getaway Car, ridden by Juan Hernandez for trainer Bob Baffert, paid $4.00 and $2.60. Bartholdy, with Tyler Baze up for trainer Steve Knapp, paid $2.40.
GRADE II, SAN PASQUAL STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
KAZUSHI KIMURA, WESTWOOD, WINNER: “This race it seemed like everyone was possible to go the lead. It was just going to depend on how he broke today, racing without the blinkers. He broke well without blinkers. I thought why not go to the lead. He was comfortable and got in a nice rhythm. At the three-eighths when I asked him to pick it up–he’s a one-paced horse—so I was confident he would be able to keep going. I was already feeling pressure on the inside rail (from Getaway Car). I just tried not to let him pass and keep moving.”
TRAINER QUOTES
JOHN SHIRREFFS, WESTWOOD, WINNER: “It’s lovely for the horse and Mr. Searing, who supports the business so much and puts so much into the game. It’s a wonderful afternoon for him and for all of us involved. “You ever hear of a horse that likes to pedal? He’s a good pedaler. He likes a challenge. He likes to be asked and pushed along a little bit. Then when horses come to him he digs in. He’s not a horse that can drop back and make a big turn. He likes to be on the front-end and feel the pressure.”
OWNER QUOTES
LEE SEARING, C R K STABLE, WESTWOOD, WINNER: “John doesn’t share too much but whatever little tweaks he did, worked. This horse tries really hard. He tried hard today and he deserves the win. He is a good horse.”
NOTES: The winning owner is C R K Stable LLC.
