Bob Baffert trained Coil draws rail in Haskell Invitational, Shackleford highly favoured to win the race
Trainer Bob Baffert who knows what it takes to win the million dollars pursed Haskell Invitational, as he has done it four times in the past 10 years. Any top trainer would tell you, to win a race you need a horse that can take on competition, a jockey who
can handle the pressure and keep his wits about.
And the final ingredient is a little bit of luck, yes, luck needs to happen to convert all the preparation in to opportunity. In horse racing the post draws are of significance and, the one who draws the rail has a distinct disadvantage.
That’s what happened with the Bob Baffert colt, Coil who drew the rail. Hiding his disappointment, Baffert said it is already in the air and he can’t do anything about it.
Bob Baffert, who won the last Haskell Invitational Handicap with Lookin at Luck under jockey Martin Garcia, will look to conquer the 1 1/8 mile event with his 3-year-old chestnut colt Coil. The Point Given colt has had 5 starts in his 2 year old career with
three wins and two on the cards.
Coil started off his career in a maiden special weight and, finished third behind Awesome Patriot and Oakcrest Drive at Hollywood Park, failed to break his maiden at his first attempt in the 6 ½ furlong sprint.
His second opportunity came after a month also at Hollywood Park, on 13 November, 2010. This time under jockey Joel Rosario, Coil expanded in confidence and took on his rivals in style to win the 7 furlong dash to break his maiden.
Bob Baffert groomed the colt well in terms of which race to run him next and, one step at a time towards the higher level seemed to have done the colt a world of good.
After breaking his maiden, Coil appeared in an Allowance claiming race with jockey A Quinonez. Coil thrashed his rivals yet again to give himself a second win in his third start at Hollywood Park synthetic surface on 6 June, 2011.
It was now that Baffert was ready to introduce Coil to the big boys, when he got entered in the Grade 3 Affirmed at Hollywood Park on 11 June, 2011. Running for the first time at a distance of more than 7 furlongs, Coil won the race with Martin Garcia over
him with the winning time of 1 minute and 42.88 seconds at a distance of 1 1/16 miles.
Out of Eversmile by Theatrical, Coil finished second in the Grade 2 Swaps at Hollywood Park on 9 July.
This time at Haskell Coil will be up against some real talent, the Preakness Stakes winner and highly favoured for the Haskell Invitational, Shackleford and, then the Kelly Breen Duo Ruler on Ice and Pants on Fire.
Coil is also a big win away to join the stars of this year’s 3-year-old division, and who knows despite of drawing the rail, Coil could trump logic with his passion and with the Haskell Invitational Handicap 2011.
Tags: