Weavers Ice Cold might have found his niche

Trainer Jeff Radosevich clearly liked what he saw when he ran the 3-year-old gelding Weavers Ice Cold on turf for the first time. So just seven days later, Weavers Ice Cold will run on turf again in Sunday’s $75,000 Green Carpet Stakes at Belterra Park.

Weavers Ice Cold was beaten a combined 50 1/4 lengths in four starts on dirt following his only victory, which came at Thistledown last September. He woke up at 45-1 when he faced older Ohio-breds in a one-mile allowance on turf at Belterra last Sunday. He was within a head of the lead after six furlongs in 1:12.53 and still just a head behind after seven furlongs in 1:26.24 before grudgingly giving way to the 6-year-old Silver Tongued, beaten a length. The 76 Beyer Speed Figure that Weavers Ice Cold earned is by far the best figure in Sunday’s field, although only three of the 14 Ohio-bred 3-year-olds entered for the 1 1/16-mile race have ever raced on grass.

When Radosevich wheels back horses quickly in routes, good things usually happen. Over the past five years, he’s 5 for 9 (56 percent) with a whopping $7.26 return on investment with route runners back in seven days or less.

The only horse in the field with a win on turf is Louisiana shipper Royal Ransom, who was elevated from second to first in a maiden race at Remington Park last August. The horse who was disqualified, Suddenbreakingnews, won the Grade 3 Southwest, was second in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, and fifth in the Kentucky Derby.

The first-time turf runners include Ossetra, winner of the six-furlong Tall Stacks in his Ohio debut three weeks ago; Bucket Beat, a 7 1/4-length winner in his first start around two turns; and My Pardner Cal, last season’s top 2-year-old Ohio-bred male.

Green Carpet, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Weavers Ice Cold, by Quiet American

Last 3 Beyers: 76-43-44

◗ There were few clues Weavers Ice Cold would flourish on turf. His sire, Quiet American, is just 2 for 42 with 3-year-olds going long on turf, and his Tomlinson rating for the surface is a low 246. But he ran extremely well and comes back quickly, a highly positive sign.

Royal Ransom, by Regal Ransom

Last 3 Beyers: 69-65-71

◗ Faces Ohio-breds for the first time after rallying from 12th to lose by less than three lengths as the 2-1 favorite in a first-level allowance at Louisiana Downs three weeks ago.

Ossetra, by Into Mischief

Last 3 Beyers: 73-77-78

◗ Former California-based horse tries turf for trainer Doug Cowens, who is just 1 for 14 with horses making their turf debuts while switching from sprints to routes. That includes two losses with odds-on favorites in Ohio-bred stakes.

Bucket Beat, by Giant Oak

Last 3 Beyers: 65-59-66

◗ Romped when stretched out to a mile last time out, but sire Giant Oaks is just 2 for 17 with his 3-year-old offspring in turf routes and Tim Hamm is 0 for 5 with last-out winners switching from dirt to turf.