Toews on Ice extends Baffert's hot hand in Barretts Juvenile

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – Bob Baffert-trained 2-year-olds that were ordinary in summer at Del Mar are turning into beasts in fall at Los Alamitos.

The maiden colt Toews on Ice, a distant third in both starts at Del Mar, crushed the $100,000 Barretts Juvenile on Sunday at Los Alamitos, drawing off to win the 6 1/2-furlong stakes race by 7 1/2 lengths in a quick 1:15.31.

“A lot of my 2-year-olds, for some reason, they didn’t do well at Del Mar,” Baffert said. “They got out of there, and they’re looking like different horses. This horse, he got up here and he looked like a different horse.”

Toews on Ice ran like a different horse. He popped the gate under Martin Garcia, was pressured by longshot Knight of Drama, and then ran away through the lane. After losing his first two starts at 4-5 and 2-1, Toews on Ice paid $21.40 in the Barretts Juvenile.

Annie’s Candy saved ground and was up for a no-threat second. Knight of Drama held third, Viviendo El Sueno ran fourth and even-money favorite Good for It finished fifth. Gio Mio, Tribal Roar, Storming Candy, and Zorro’s Storm completed the order of finish.

Toews on Ice was a buyback at the Barretts February select sale of 2-year-olds in training. Bidding stalled at $340,000 and the colt was returned to consignor Brocklebank training and sales. Baffert bought the colt privately the next day for an undisclosed sum.

“He looked like a fast horse,” Baffert said. He also admitted that he was “just taking a shot” by entering the maiden in a stakes.

Toews on Ice was Baffert’s fourth 2-year-old winner at the Los Al fall meet. Lemhill Basr won her career debut by more than four lengths on Sept. 10, the 2-for-2 colt Mt Veeder won a stakes by more than four lengths Sept. 12, and third-time starter Treasuring won a maiden race by more than seven lengths on Sept. 19.

The pick six Sunday returned $14,074.20. Racing resumes Thursday, for the final two days of the Fall Thoroughbred meet that ends Friday. The Santa Anita fall meet begins on Saturday.