Toews On Ice Heads Sunday’s $75,000 San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita Park

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 17, 2016)—Graded stakes winning Toews On Ice heads a field of seven sophomores in Santa Anita’s $75,000 San Pedro Stakes at six furlongs on Sunday.  (Originally scheduled for this past Friday, March 11, the San Pedro was cancelled due to heavy rain and re-drawn this morning).

TOEWS ON ICE:  Trained by Bob Baffert and named for Chicago Blackhawks star center and captain, Jonathan Toews (pronounced TAVES), 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 WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS

RACE 8          Approximate post time, 4:05 p.m. PT

1. Mt Veeder                            Rafael Bejarano                  120

2. He’s a Tiger                          Edwin Maldonado             120

3. Iron Rob                                Stewart Elliot                       120

4. Boldly True                           Drayden Van Dyke             120

5. Denman’s Call                     Flavien Prat                          120

6. Toews On Ice                       Victor Espinoza                   124

7. Gold Rush Dancer             Gary Stevens                       120

Source: Santa Anita Park