01/08/2013 4:09PM

Ultimate Eagle eyes San Antonio as Santa Anita Handicap prep

By Steve Andersen
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Shigeki Kikkawa
Ultimate Eagle, second in the San Pasqual Stakes to Coil last Saturday, will run in the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 3.

Ultimate Eagle, second in the San Pasqual Stakes last Saturday, will run in the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 3 as a prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 2.

“He came out of it like he went in – perfect,” trainer Mike Pender said.

In the San Pasqual, Ultimate Eagle set the pace and was caught by Coil in the final sixteenth, losing by a head. Coil was retired to stud following the race.

“I’ve got to hand it to Coil,” Pender said. “He ran a big race.”

The San Antonio is run over 1  1/8 miles and is expected to draw defending champion Game On Dude, a multiple stakes winner. Monday at Santa Anita, the Baffert-trained Game On Dude worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds.

James Pugliese 11 months ago
Ultimate Eagle ran terriffic,and I thought it was aggressive riding by pedroza to keep coil wide going into first turn,but as it worked out he probably helped coil by allowing him to track a speed horse ,as coil it seems has a tendency to wait on horses once he passes them.Great race!
D 11 months ago
where have all the great ones gone! when donkies like game on dude are viewed as great horses you know that horse racing is over!
Jordan 11 months ago
I'm not sure there is anyone who seriously considers Game on Dude a great horse, a Hall of Fame horse. He's a good horse, a very good horse. But a truly great horse finds a way to win the 11' Hollywood Gold Cup and Breeder's Cup Classic and 12' Pacific Classic, and runs better in the 12' BC Classic. But Game on Dude has proven to be a very durable and relatively consistent horse, the result being 8 graded stakes wins, among them 4 grade 1s. If he can stay healthy this year, he has a good chance to put up some very impressive career stats.
Kermit Pleasant 11 months ago
Go Dude!
redboy 11 months ago
Go gitem Eagle! Should be a WAR, Eagle vs Dude.
Marc Ferrell 11 months ago
Not if you compare Beyers and Sheet #'s. Game on Dude is 5-8 lengths better when he fires. Ultimate Eagle is eligible to improve, I would worry about the pace duel.
Jordan 11 months ago
Yes, it should be a good matchup. I like Pender and Wright's attitude, coming right back off a loss to Baffert showing no fear of Baffert's #1 horse. But the problem is that Ultimate Eagle just lost to a Baffert "B" teamer in Coil( "B" teamer as it concerns two turn capabilities). Ultimate Eagle hasn't shown yet they he can beat a horse of Game on Dude's ability and class. However, while Ultimate Eagle is unlikely to beat Game on Dude, he could make things just rough enough up front that it sets up for some other horse.
redboy 11 months ago
Your right.I like that analysis. But Dude has lost 2 of his last 3. And Baffert isn't scorching up the wins lately like he was last year Jan-Oct. And the Eagle has the talent to do it.
Mick 11 months ago
Dude has won 2 of his last 3, the Goodwood and Native Diver bookend his Classic flop.