NEWS
Icy Atlantic scores biggest win of his career in Arcadia
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2007 9:17 PM
James Scatuorchio’s Icy Atlantic unleashed a furious stretch rally after racing in last in a field of nine for a half-mile and gamely earned a head win in the $150,000 Arcadia Handicap (G2) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
Willow O Wisp led until very deep into the stretch of the one-mile turf race, gamely fighting back a determined El Roblar, who had pressed the pacesetter from the start. El Roblar gained command in the final sixteenth then relinquished his advantage to Icy Atlantic, who rallied between horses in the stretch under urging from jockey Ramon Dominguez.
Icy Atlantic moved up to sixth in early stretch, more than 3 1/2 lengths off the pace, then prevailed in 1:35.18. Willow O Wisp held for third, a half-length farther back.
The Stormy Atlantic horse was steadied briefly approaching the stretch when Hendrix broke down. Track veterinarian Dr. Joseph Bailey said Hendrix sustained a fractured left front shine bone and was euthanized.
Corey Nakatani, Hendrix's rider, escaped injury.
“I wasn’t expecting to be that far back,” said Dominguez, who had also won the previous race. “[Trainer] Todd [Pletcher] called and told me he’d be midpack, so I was not expecting to be last.”
Michael McCarthy, who handled Pletcher’s West Coast string, said, “The turn of foot he showed in his last race showed a new dimension for him.”
Six-year-old Icy Atlantic has six wins from 32 starts. He is out of Frosty Promise, by Frosty the Snowman.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
