Toews On Ice Possibly Heading to New Mexico

Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman's Toews On Ice set a track record Sept. 11 at Los Alamitos Race Course, where he covered six furlongs in 1:07.79 in an optional claiming allowance event, but the Archarcharch   colt may not carry the recognizable red and yellow silks in his next race.

New Mexico-based trainer Justin Evans said Sunday night that he has a deal in principle to purchase the four-time stakes winner and grade I-placed 3-year-old as long as he comes out of the race in good shape.

"As good as he ran today, I hope we have him bought," Evans said of Toews On Ice, who won the Bob Hope Stakes (gr. III) at Del Mar and ran second to Bob Baffert stablemate Mor Spirit in the Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I) as a juvenile in 2015. "Hopefully it's a done deal. We thought we had him bought about a week ago, but there was some back and forth with Bob (about entering him in a race). I just touched base with Bob on the phone and we'll see how he comes out of the race tomorrow, and hopefully we will finalize a deal."

In 2016, Toews On Ice ran sixth in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park in January, then won the William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs in April before his start Sunday at Los Alamitos. Evans said he thinks the colt will be a top sprinter in the Southwest.

"I wish I had him at Zia (Park) for the Premier (Cup Handicap) today, because I think he'll be the best sprinter here," Evans said.

At Los Alamitos Sunday, Toews On Ice dueled between horses through a half-mile in :44.79 and finished off the six furlongs under a hand ride from Stewart Elliott to win by 4 1/4 lengths. He was up for a $62,500 claiming tag, as well, but did not get claimed.