Making only his third start of 2012 and the fifth since taking the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational last year in July, Florida-bred Coil chose a good time for a big win while taking the $250,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) Saturday at the Arcadia, Calif., oval.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for Karl Watson and Paul Weitman of Tucson, Ariz., and Michael E. Pegram of Phoenix, Ariz., this year Coil had only a victory over $100,000 optional claimers in July and a good second to stable mate Capital Account in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes in August—both at Del Mar Race Course—before being entered into the six furlong Sprint Championship.
Reunited with jockey Martin Garcia, who had not been aboard Coil since they were third in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita in October of last year, Coil broke from post three and was quickly reserved back into fifth-place in the seven-horse field. Long shot Castletown went to the front of the pack from the onset and had the filly Reneesgotzip just to his outside as they went the first quarter mile in :21.69 with 4-5 favorite Amazombie stalking in third. The two frontrunners kept the lead around the far turn while Coil began moving four-wide and Amazombie began moving to the front between horses with Jimmy Creed doing the same along the rail.
Midway down the stretch Coil took the lead while Capital Account entered the fray with Jimmy Creed and Amazombie also not giving in. At the wire, Coil was a head in front of Capital Account with Jimmy Creed three-quarters of a length back in third. Amazombie was fourth just a half-length behind Jimmy Creed. Coil finished the six furlongs in 109.89.
“It’s a great opportunity to get this horse back and I did my job,” Garcia said.
The Santa Anita Sprint Championship was a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) that will be run at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. It is expected that Baffert will send both Coil and Capital Account into the $1 million race.
By Point Given and out of the Theatrical mare Eversmile, Coil was bred in Florida by Leonard Lavin’s Glen Hill Farm located in Ocala. It was the sixth victory from 11 career starts for the 4-year-old Coil, who now has earnings of $1,029,360.
Let go with odds of nearly 8-1, Coil paid $17.20 to his supporters with $2 win tickets and $7.60 who had him to place. He paid $4.00 to show. Capital Account paid $5.80 and $3.80 and Jimmy Creed returned $6.40. With Amazobie out of the money, the $1 exacta came back at $38.40 and the $1 trifecta paid $329.80.
Photo by Benoit
