Toews On Ice Heads Six Sophomore Sprinters in San Pedro
Graded stakes winning Toews On Ice heads a field of six sophomores in Santa Anita’s $75,000 San Pedro Stakes at six furlongs on Friday.
TOEWS ON ICE: Trained by Bob Baffert and named for Chicago Blackhawks star center and captain, Johnathan Toews (pronounced TAZE), Toews On Ice was an impressive winner of the Grade III, seven furlong Bob Hope Stakes three starts back on Nov. 14 at Del Mar, but he comes off a disappointing sixth place finish as the 3-5 favorite in the one mile Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park Jan. 18.
Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Toews On Ice, who is Triple Crown nominated, was a close second to his highly regarded stablemate Mor Spirit two starts back in the Grade I Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 19. A Kentucky-bred colt by Archarcharch, Toews On Ice has pressed or been on the early lead in all seven of his starts, resulting in three wins and earnings of $245,700.
DENMAN’S CALL: Trained by Doug O’Neill, this Kentucky-bred gelding by Northern Afleet has done little wrong in two starts. A stylish 3 ¾ length first-out maiden special weight winner going 5 ½ furlongs here on Jan. 9, Denman’s Call hugged the rail en route to an impressive third place finish behind top Derby contender Nyquist in the Grade II, seven furlong San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 15—an effort that earned him a lofty 94 Beyer Speed figure. Owned by Gilman Racing, Westside Rentals.com or W.C. Racing, Inc., Denman’s Call is also Triple Crown nominated and could use a win in the San Pedro as a springboard to the Derby trail.
THE SAN PEDRO STAKES FIELD IN POST POSITION ORDER
RACE 8 Approximate post time, 4:30 p.m. PT
1. Gold Rush Dancer Gary Stevens 120
2. Boldly True Mario Gutierrez 120
3. Toews On Ice Martin Garcia 124
4. Mt Veeder Rafael Bejarano 120
5. Denman’s Call Flavien Prat 120
6. He’s a Tiger Edwin Maldonado 120
Source: Santa Anita Park