San Pasqual Stakes: Coil Closes His Career with Thrilling Stretch Duel Win

Coil outlasted Ultimate Eagle after a thrilling homestretch duel to win the Grade 2, $150,000 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita and close out his career with a win.

In what was practically a match race, both Ultimate Eagle and Coil went for the lead out of the gate, but jockey Martin Garcia was willing to let Martin Pedroza settle Ultimate Eagle with the clear lead as they took the first turn.

Down the backstretch, Ultimate Eagle maintained the 1.5-length lead as Coil continued tracking him, followed by John Scott at the rail and Jaycito, who was keen to get to the leaders running wide.

But as they started taking the final turn, Coil started to cut into the lead and engage Ultimate Eagle while both separated from the rest of the pack.

As they turned for home, Ultimate Eagle had half a length in front and the battle was in full force.

Coil got on even terms as they reached the final furlong pole and put a head up front with Garcia's strong urging with the whip on the right hand, while Pedroza took the whip left handed; both went all out with a magnificent display that saw Coil prevail by a head.

It was six lengths back to John Scott, who was just a far-third best Saturday. Tres Borrachos closed for fourth followed by Bank the Eight and Jaycito, who finished a distant last and was never comfortable during the race.

Coil closes his career with a lifetime record of 14-7-2-3 and earnings of $1,154,360. He won four stakes races, two of them Grade 1, the 2011 Haskell Invitational and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship this past October.

He was originally trained by Thomas Proctor and was transferred to Bob Baffert's barn after his third-place finish debut race.

He went on to win his first three races under Baffert and four out of five, including his big win at the Haskell over 2011 Preakness and Belmont winners Shackleford and Ruler on Ice.

Jockey Martin Garcia rode him in nine of his 13 races and was aboard him in all of his four stakes wins.

Coil will now head to stud for 2013 at Magali Farms in California with standing fees of $5,000.

He is a son of Point Given, the 2001 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male of 2001, out of 11-year-old mare by Theatrical, Eversmile. She is a half-sister to the eight-time stakes winner and millionaire Possibly Perfect.

Race Name: San Pasqual S.   -   Grade: 2
Age Restriction: Four Year Old and Upward
Purse: $150,250
Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:42.52     Fractions: 23.56, 47.64, 1:11.28, 1:35.84
No	Horse	Jockey	Win	Place	Show
6	Coil	Martin Garcia	5.60	3.00	2.20
4	Ultimate Eagle	Martin A. Pedroza		3.80	2.80
5	John Scott	Victor Espinoza			2.80
Also ran: 3 - Tres Borrachos , 7 - Bank the Eight , 1 - Jaycito

Winning Owner: Karl  Watson, Michael E. Pegram and Paul Weitman

Winning Trainer: Bob Baffert

Winning Breeder: Glen Hill Farm

Wager Type		Winning Numbers		Payoff
$1 Pick 3		8-4-6 (3 correct)		55.20
$2 Daily Double		4-6		12.60
$1 Exacta		6-4		10.30
$1 Consolation Pick 3		8-3-6 (3 correct)		18.80
$1 Superfecta		6-4-5-3		76.20
$1 Trifecta		6-4-5		21.30

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