Coil Retired to Stud in California

In a stirring stretch battle, Coil, ridden by Martin Garcia, and Ultimate Eagle, with Martin Pedroza up, were separated by head at the finish of Saturday’s Grade II, $150,000 San Pasqual Stakes with Coil prevailing in what was his last dance, according to Bob Baffert.

“That was it,” said Baffert. “He’ll be retired to stud. He’ll go to Magali Farm. I think he deserves to be retired. He’s good. He’s very healthy right now, but it’s time to send him to stud.

Although Coil, a 5-year-old son of Point Given, will be embarking upon a different career, Ultimate Eagle will now set his talons firmly set on the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, to be run on March 2.

“He ran his race, he just got beat by a better horse today,” said trainer Mike Pender. “This was going to be a nice prep for some other spots and (then) the Big ’Cap . . . He’s a big, 1,200 pound animal and he definitely needed this race. It was his second race off the layoff and now we’ve got him set.”