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Code West outduels Uncaptured in Matt Winn

Code West (right) gained compensation after a couple of tough beats this season (Wendy Wooley/EquiSport Photos) Gary and Mary West's Code West gamely held off Uncaptured after a stretch-long duel in Saturday night's Grade 3, $113,100 Matt Winn Stakes, handing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his 100th career win at Churchill Downs. The 2-1 favorite was also giving jockey Rosie Napravnik her third winner on the card. Earlier in the evening, Napravnik had broken Donna Barton-Brothers' record for most wins at a Churchill meet by a female rider with 31, and Code West's hard-fought score raised her total to 32. Code West and Uncaptured raced in tandem for much of the early going in the Matt Winn as well, each stalking the pacesetter Dewey Square through splits of :24 3/5, :48 4/5 and 1:13 2/5 on the fast track. Code West was tactically advantaged on the outside, however, while Uncaptured was covered up on the rail, and had to concede the crucial first run to his rival. Swinging for home, Code West struck the front. Uncaptured peeled off the fence and found a seam to attack, and the battle was engaged. For a few strides, the 5-1 Uncaptured appeared to hold the upper hand, but the favorite was resilient on the inside.

Code West responded to the challenge, forced his head back in front, and held it there at the wire. The son of Lemon Drop Kid negotiated 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 1/5 and paid $6.20, $3.40 and $2.80.

Uncaptured, who had prevailed in a similar duel with Frac Daddy in last November's Kentucky Jockey Club, sustained his first loss from three appearances beneath the Twin Spires. As the 123-pound highweight, he was spotting Code West five pounds.

The top two were 6 1/4 lengths clear of Abstraction. The 5-2 second choice, Abstraction suffered early interference rounding the clubhouse turn, but recovered to make a smart move on the far turn. The well-bred Pulpit colt could not continue to kick on down the stretch and settled for third, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Dewey Square.

Bellarmine reported home fifth, followed by Sunbean, Carve, Looking Cool, Treasury Bill and Street Spice. Ruler of Love was scratched.

Code West's arguably overdue first stakes win advanced his line to 10-3-4-2, $260,476. Just mugged on the line by Ive Struck a Nerve in the February 23 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, he defeated future Belmont winner Palace Malice and Preakness hero Oxbow that day. But Code West was only sixth next time out in the Louisiana Derby.

Even though he had sufficient points to make the Kentucky Derby field, Baffert and the Wests decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and withdrew him from consideration. Code West instead ran in an allowance on the Derby undercard, where he was an unlucky runner-up to Bellarmine. He again took the allowance route on Preakness Day at Pimlico, and romped in a confidence-booster.

Bred by Edward P. Evans in Virginia, Code West was sold as part of his late breeder's dispersal for $340,000 at Keeneland September. The dark bay ridgling is out of the stakes-winning Saint Ballado mare Charitabledonation, making him a full brother to multiple Grade 2 victor Charitable Man. Further back, this is the female line of Hall of Famer Exceller and champion and successful sire Capote.

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