Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith won the Grade 1 Travers, and did so decisively, for a second straight year Saturday at Saratoga after West Coast led throughout en route to a 3 1/4 length victory over the 24-1 Gunnevera. Baffert and Smith combined to win the 2016 by 13 lengths with Arrogate here one year earlier.

West Coast entered the mile and one quarter Travers on a three race winning streak and showed some surprising speed, quickly taking command under Smith to show the way while chased for over six furlongs by Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. West Coast repulsed his early pursuer only to be engaged by both Irap and Gunnevera on the final turn, asserting his superiority by kicking away from those two challengers with complete authoriity, steadily increasing his advantage through the final furlong.

  Gunnevera, who had only one horse beaten early after breaking a step slow, circled horses while advancing steadily around the second turn, lugged in under right hand urging while looming boldly near mid-stretch but proved no match for the winner. He was easily second best, finishing 2 1/4 lengths in front of Irap, who steadied briefly behind Gunnevera in late stretch. Following a stewards inquiry and claim of foul, the result stood as is.

Tapwrit, the Belmont winner finished fourth, Cloud Computing the Preakness winner eighth and Always Draming a tiring ninth. Good Samaritan, the tepid 7-2 favorite in the field of 12 3-year-olds, lagged far back early and was never a factor, ultimately finishing a well beaten fifth. 

West Coast, a son of Flatter owned by Gary and Mary West, completed the distance in 2:01.19 and paid $14.20.