Coil unwinds in Grade 3 Affirmed

Saturday | June 11, 2011

For the second time in six years, trainer Bob Baffert won the $100,000 Affirmed H. (G3) with a son of Point Given; the first came five years ago with Point Determined. Baffert trained Point Given, winner of the Preakness (G1) and Belmont (G1), to 2001 Horse of the Year honors.

Coil, a 3-year-old colt making his first stakes start and first start around two turns, defeated Runflatout by a length in 1:42.88 for the 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track.

Coil is perfect in three starts since being privately purchased by Baffert for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.

Coil, the 9-10 favorite, moved inside of stablemate Awesome Patriot as that one coasted through slow opening fractions, gained the lead on the far turn, and dug in to hold off a resilient Runflatout.

With the $60,000 payday, Coil is now 3-for-4 and has earned $118,560. All of his wins have come at Hollywood; he broke his maiden last November, then won an allowance race, where he got a whopping 106 Beyer Speed Figure, on May 6.

“I wished I could have reversed posts with (Awesome Patriot),’’ said Baffert. “He (winning rider Martin Garcia) said he couldn’t hold him they were going so slow. He was still pretty green when he made the lead and coming down to the wire.

“I was hoping to get a good Point Given. He’s just getting better and better. I was pretty impressed today with him, what he did and the way he did it. He’s still learning how to run.’’

Baffert said the primary target for Coil is the $1 million Haskell I. (G1) July 31 at Monmouth Park. The Hall of Fame trainer mentioned two possible races prior to the Haskell – the $150,000 Dwyer S. (G2) July 2 at Belmont Park and the $150,000 Swaps S. (G2) July 9 at Hollywood Park.

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