Gary and Mary West’s Kentucky-bred West Will Power recorded the initial Grade 1 score of his career in the $1 million Stephen Foster S. (G1) at Ellis Park on Saturday, July 1. West Will Power defeated seven rivals in the “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Challenge race, holding a late rally from Rattle N Roll at bay to score by a half-length in the 1 1/8-mile test. West Will Power covered the distance in 1:47.93, just .39 seconds off the track record.
“He was cruising all the way around there,” said winning rider Flavien Prat. “He just carried me home to the wire down the stretch. I was really impressed by the way he won this winter at Fair Grounds in the New Orleans Classic (G2).”
Winning trainer Brad Cox, said, “I think he can handle a mile-and-a-quarter in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). “I was much more confident with him getting a target to track off in this race. We’ll see how the figures come back but I’m very proud of the way this horse has developed. It’s a credit to the Wests and this horse to have the patience to improve with age.”
With the win, West Will power, a 6-year-old son of Bernardini, improved his overall record to 17-7-7-1 and now boasts earnings of $1,745,770. He is produced from the Wild Event mare Wild Promises, and was bred in Kentucky by the Wests.