Saturday, Santa Anita
SANTA ANITA SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP S.-GI, $250,000, SAX, 10-6, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09 4/5, ft.
1--COIL, 119, c, 4, by Point Given
1st Dam: Eversmile, by Theatrical (Ire)
2nd Dam: Avasand, by Avatar
3rd Dam: Sandy Blue, by Windy Sands
O-Karl Watson, Michael E Pegram & Paul Weitman; B-Glen Hill Farm (FL); T-Bob Baffert; J-Martin Garcia. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 11-6-2-2, $1,029,360. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Capital Account, 119, h, 5, Closing Argument--Accountess, by Private Account. ($330,000 yrl '08 KEESEP). O-Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable; B-Silverleaf Farms inc (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $50,000.
3--Jimmy Creed, 118, c, 3, Distorted Humor--Hookedonthefeelin, by Citidancer. ($900,000 yrl '10 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Richard E Mandella. $30,000.
Margins: HD, 3/4, HF. Odds: 7.60, 7.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Amazombie, Castletown, Camp Victory, Reneesgotzip.
Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Taylor Made Sales.
   Coil couldn't hold off stablemate Capital Account last out in the seven-furlong GII Pat O'Brien H. at Del Mar Aug. 26, but got first run on him here to provide an exacta for trainer Bob Baffert. After winning the GI Haskell Invitational last summer, the chestnut was a desultory 10th in the GI Travers S., but redeemed himself with a third in the GI Goodwood S. at Santa Anita, though he wouldn't face the starter for a long time thereafter. The Pegram/Watson/Weitman colorbearer looked sharp in his return, an optional claimer at Del Mar July 26, and acquitted himself well four weeks later. With blinkers added this time, Coil settled well off the early pace contested by Castletown (Orientate) and Reneesgotzip (City Zip). Taken four wide on the turn, he surged past defending champion Amazombie (Northern Afleet), and stayed on determinedly for his second career Grade I score. Amazombie flattened out a bit to wind up fourth. "I'm sure [trainer] Bill [Spawr] didn't have him screwed down exactly as tight as he wanted for this one," said rider Mike Smith. "You'd certainly like to win, but with these types of horses you're talking about the first two finishers probably being one of the favorites going to the Breeders' Cup. It's a tough race and we knew it was going to be tough going in. In saying that, the important thing was to get a good race in him and move forward."