On Fire tries to put the heat on Toews On Ice
DEL MAR, Calif. – Fire and ice. Those are two of the key elements to the Grade 3, $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar, in which Toews On Ice will be favored to win his third straight stakes, while On Fire will look to cause an upset.
Seven are entered in the seven-furlong race for 2-year-olds, including debut winners Dr. Dorr, Jury, and Mac Daddy Mac.
Trainer Simon Callaghan is hoping that a cutback in distance, a hot pace, plus an outside post all add up to an improved effort from On Fire, who was badly outrun in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes last time out at Santa Anita. That race did prove to be significant, as the one-two finishers, Nyquist and Swipe, came back to finish in that order in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
On Fire drew post 6 for the Bob Hope.
“He didn’t like being inside last time, so we’re thinking that race can be dismissed,” Callaghan said Thursday. “An outside post will suit him better. But it’s definitely a tough spot.”
Prior to the FrontRunner, On Fire ran twice at Del Mar, finishing third sprinting in his debut, then winning a one-mile maiden race. Callaghan is hoping On Fire can get a stalking trip and some pace at which to run.
“A fastly run seven-eighths should suit him,” Callaghan said.
The Bob Hope goes as race 8 on a nine-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific.
KEY CONTENDERS
On Fire (Beyers: 40-65-64)
◗ Victor Espinoza tries his hand on the colt, replacing Gary Stevens, who rode On Fire in all of his prior starts but defected to Mac Daddy Mac for the Bob Hope.
Toews On Ice (Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-52)
◗ After catching a sloppy track in his debut and then a monster in Young Brian in his second try, he has won his last two in a romp, including the Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita last time out.
Dr. Dorr (Beyer: 78)
◗ Named for the prominent surgeon who replaced owner Jill Baffert’s hip, he ran to expectations in his debut, rallying to prevail at Santa Anita. Third-place finisher Esposito came out of that race to win over the weekend, underscoring the quality of the race.
Jury (Beyer: 77)
◗ Just as with Dr. Dorr, he was a debut winner while favored during the fall meeting at Santa Anita, and he earned a similar Beyer Speed Figure.
Mac Daddy Mac (Beyer: 73)
◗ He was privately purchased after his debut by owner Dean Reeves and transferred to trainer Kathy Ritvo, who got Stevens to ride, thus putting back together the band that won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2013 with Mucho Macho Man.
Street Vision (Beyers: 72-87-63)
◗ Got the best figure in the field in his race before last when beating maidens at Santa Anita, then was second last time out behind Toews On Ice in the Speakeasy.