Pegram, Watson and Weitman’s talented Coil figures prominently in
Saturday’s Grade II, $150,000 San Pasqual Stakes as the 5-year-old son
of Point Given will try to stretch his speed to 1 1/16 miles.
A winner of the Grade I Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct.
6, Coil was subsequently an even seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on
Nov. 3, en route to an impressive third-place finish in the Grade I
Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 24.
In his only try at the San Pasqual distance, the Baffert trainee
was victorious, taking the Grade III Affirmed Handicap in June of 2011
at Betfair Hollywood Park.
As an indication of his readiness, Coil worked a bullet five
furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 29 in 58.40, best of 102 drills at the
distance.
Coil’s overall mark stands at 13-6-2-3, with earnings of
$1,064,360. Martin Garcia will ride for the fourth consecutive time on
Saturday.
Harris Farms’ talented John Scott, a 6-year-old California-bred
gelding by Bertrando, has been idle since running a creditable fourth,
beaten 4 ½ lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 3.
Trained by Carla Gaines, lightly-raced John Scott enjoyed his best year in 2012, earning $278,704 from a record of 7-3-1-1.
Drawn just to the inside of Coil, this twosome will likely
ensure a fast San Pasqual pace. Victor Espinoza, who has won with
“John” on four occasions, will ride on Saturday. Bred by Harris Farms
and Scott Gross, John Scott has earnings of $382,304 from an overall
mark of 10-5-1-1.
B.J. Wright’s versatile Ultimate Eagle, who has won three graded
stakes on turf and one on dirt—last year’s Grade II Strub Stakes at 1
1/16 miles, is drawn just inside of John Scott and is expected to be the
speed of the San Pasqual speed.
Idle since taking the lead and finishing second as the 2-1
favorite in the Grade II Citation Handicap on Nov. 23, the 5-year-old
son of Mizzen Mast returns to dirt on Saturday as he is again pointed to
the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on March 2, a race in which he ran
poorly as the 2-1 favorite last year.
Trained by Mike Pender, Ultimate Eagle will again be handled by
Martin Pedroza, who has ridden him to all five of his career victories.
He has earnings of $517,800 from a record of 11-5-1-3.
The complete field for the San Pasqual Stakes, to be run as
Saturday’s seventh race, with jockeys and weights in post position
order: Jaycito, Julien Leparoux, 118; Hoorayforhollywood, Joe Talamo,
118; Tres Borrachos, Garrett Gomez, 118; Ultimate Eagle, Martin Pedroza,
120; John Scott, Victor Espinoza, 118; Coil, Martin Garcia, 118; Bank
the Eight, Rafael Bejarano, 118; Key Decision, Edwin Maldonado, 118, and
Golden Itiz, Jose Valdivia, Jr., 118.