Gary and Mary West's undefeated GSW West Coast Belle (Tapit) continued preparations for her 3-year-old debut with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.80 yesterday morning at the Fair Grounds. The filly's name will be in the entry box at the New Orleans oval in the near future, according to trainer Wayne Catalano.
“She's training very well over the track,” said Catalano. “We're looking to run her in the first [available race], which is on the 17th [Silverbulletday S.].”
Catalano added that if all goes according to plan, West Coast Belle will compete in the local series of races around two turns for sophomore fillies. The Jan. 17 Silverbulletday, run at an extended mile distance, is followed by the GIII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 21 and the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 28, both at 1 1/16 miles.
“We'll see how she does after [the Silverbulletday] and then maybe go for the Fair Grounds Oaks,” commented the three-time Breeders' Cup winning conditioner.
The grey demonstrated a quick mastery of the learning curve in her three-start juvenile campaign, which began with a last-to-first maiden victory going 5 1/2 furlongs at Monmouth Park Sept. 13. She followed with a pair of wins at Churchill Downs in the Oct. 26 Rags to Riches S. at a one-turn mile and the Nov. 29 GII Golden Rod S. at 1 1/16 miles–her first try around two turns.
“The way it was mapped out and the way it fell in place for her was good,” noted Catalano. “It was good to get her in that groove that way so we could gradually stretch her out.”
A Gary and Mary West homebred, West Coast Belle is the second foal to race out of the broodmare Splendid Solution (Unbridled's Song). The filly's third dam, Dispute (Danzig), was a four-time Grade I winner, including a triumph in the 1993 Kentucky Oaks for owner Ogden Mills Phipps.
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