Toews On Ice Back Sprinting in San Pedro

Santa Anita Park has drawn quality talent in recent years for its San Pedro Stakes and the 2016 edition shouldn't disappoint either.



The headliner for the $75,000 six-furlong race this time around March 11 is grade III winner and grade I runner-up Toews On Ice. Trained by Bob Baffert for Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman, the son of Archarcharch   appeared to be pointed for a Triple Crown run after finishing second to stablemate Mor Spirit in the Dec. 19 Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I), but tired to finish sixth in the Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 18 at Oaklawn Park.



Back at sprint distances—where he won the seven-furlong Bob Hope (gr. III) at Del Mar in November, the Speakeasy at Santa Anita in October, and the Barretts Juvenile at Los Alamitos Race Course in September—Toews On Ice  figures to be a formidable once again.

BALAN: Toews On Ice All Heart in Bob Hope Victory



But he will not be without challengers. The most significant threat appears to be Denman's Call—trained by Doug O'Neill for Gilman Racing, Westside Rentals.com, and W. C. Racing—a Northern Afleet   colt who impressed in his stakes debut Feb. 15, when he ran third, four lengths behind undefeated Nyquist and 2 1/2 lengths behind fellow Triple Crown contender Exaggerator, in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II). Denman's Call impressively broke his maiden (3 3/4 lengths) going 5 1/2 furlongs in his debut Jan. 16 at Santa Anita.



Also entered is another Baffert-trained colt, Mt Veeder, who finished sixth last time out in Nyquist's FrontRunner (gr. I) victory Sept. 26. The son of Ghostzapper   is also dialing back to a sprint, the same distance he scored at in the Contender Stakes at Los Alamitos in September.



Emerald Downs stakes winner Gold Rush Dancer, stakes-placed He's a Tiger, and Feb. 20 allowance winner Boldly True round out the field.