Westrock Stables’ homebred Ike overcame a four-wide trip to score by a half-length in a Feb. 11 Santa Anita Park maiden special weight for 3-year-olds [WATCH RACE].
The Paynter colt, who was well-backed following a series of sharp works for trainer Bob Baffert, did not disappoint being stuck well out in the middle of the track for most of the trip. Caught widest of all in a four-way duel for the lead early on, Ike eventually got the lead with a little more than a quarter-mile to run, then held off the late charge of More Honor to secure the win.
Ike is the third foal out of Dreamcaster (GB), whose versatile dam Winendynme was a stakes winner both sprinting and going long on the turf.
Just like Paynter did, his foals are blossoming at three. His first crop of runners, who are three this year, already include a pair of stakes horses and several maiden winners that have propelled him into the Top 10 on the 2018 Second-Crop Sire list.
