Back at the site of his GII Los Alamitos Futurity score last December, Wynstock returned to the Los Alamitos winner’s circle Saturday after the $100,000 Los Al Derby.
One of two Bob Baffert runners in the Derby, Wynstock had previously done his best running from the front. But he was outrun to the front by race favorite Tapalo (Tapiture) who rocketed out to a large margin as Wynstock was relegated to second through the opening half in :46.20. As Tapalo continued all alone into the far turn, Wynstock and his stablemate Cornell began to find their best strides and were able to begin a sustained drive passing the quarter pole.
The leader, who looked home free, began to drop anchor and wandered to the center of the stretch as Wynstock rode the rail and Cornell came outside to split him. The pair came into the final sixteenth together and, despite being on nearly separate sides of the track, needed a photo to be separated on the line with Wynstock just edging out his stablemate.
“I thought Wynstock’s only chance was to be on the lead, but he runs well here because he likes a firmer surface,” said Baffert. “He could not make the lead, so [jockey Kyle Frey] just grabbed him and [Tapalo] was out there by himself and I knew Cornell was going to make a run. Down the stretch, I thought Cornell was going to cut the corner, but he stayed outside and [Tapalo] was drifting him out and then I saw a horse flying on the inside and I thought, ‘Son of a gun’, and then I realized ‘Oh, that’s my horse, he came back.’ We know Wynstock has a lot of talent. I’m just happy we won and ran 1-2. It’s nice to come here and win this race, especially for [Los Alamitos owner] Doc [Dr. Ed Allred]. I’m a big fan of his. It’s nice to hang with him and reminisce and tell old stories.”
Wynstock was raised at Hidden Brook Farm in Paris, Kentucky before going through the ring with Hidden Brook at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale. He capped a big day for Hidden Brook raised and sold 3-year-olds after Neat ran big to capture the G3 Manila S. in New York, his third Stakes victory and second at the graded level.
One of four stakes winners for Solomini, Wynstock is out of a half-sister to GSW Untrapped (Trappe Shot) and from the family of the late Tale of the Cat.
-edited from www.thoroughbreddailynews.com
