8/7/21

  7   DMR     Best Pal Stakes (GII)

$200.000    2yo     6f   Dirt      120lbs  +penalties

I really do bad when trying to handicap these baby races, but, here goes nuthin’ as we look at the field for the Best Pal Stakes (GII) to be run at six furlongs on the main track here in SoCal.  I’m taking Croton Road as my top selection today.  He looked good in his only start, winning at CD in a fast time and his works say that he’s continuing to show what kind of horse he really is.  The last three gallops have been over this surface, so the connections look like they were pointing to this one.  Let’s go to the rail and put Grouse Mountain on our tickets.  He closed like a real monster to take the Tremont at BEL, has won on both wet and dry surfaces and looks to be any type.  I’ll take another, making his second start and put Spiced in this one as well.  He won by daylight in FLA, and he just hits me as a horse that really knows how to haul the mail.

Again, I’d put no credence in my picks… I’m usually horrible with the youngsters, but they pay me to give an opinion, and like the weather man, I’m usually way off base.   

Here’s The Field –

Broke maiden, sold, won the Tremont, sold… two for three, so there just isn’t much bad to be said about this one.  Won on a muddy track at WO to break maiden, then came back to close well and nose them in that stakes victory.  I think he’s a horse that you have to give a big chance to get the job done again today.

Broke maiden at CD on a wet track, and was third over that surface in his first trip to the starting gate, so this one looks to have some real ability.  I like that he ran well on both dry and wet surfaces, and I think he’s a horse that could take a step forward today. 

Looked good breaking maiden at SA in his first trip to the gate, but never lifted a hoof when eleventh of twelve in the Tremont, and he faces a few of those combatants again today.  He showed great speed in that initial win, so maybe it was just an off-day in NY and he bounces back here.

One start, one win, and he looked good doing it down in Louisville where he got home in quick time to earn a nice SRF speed fig for a first time starter.  He’s been given some time to mature, has a steady stream of am gallops and looks ready to show what he has.  I think he could be any kind of horse, but most likely, a real good one. 

Another that looked great in his first trip to the race track, then followed it up with a less than thrilling performance.  Broke maiden at SA vs Cal-bred as the morning line favorite, then was last of twelve over the same surface in his first stakes try.  Now, this outfit knows a good horse from a bad one, and they didn’t come here just to see how things go, so keep an eye on him, and he could be a good price.   

He’s been a real up-and-down type, breaking maiden at first asking, then running fifth in a stakes at CD, only to follow that up with a big win at SA vs. stakes company.  Tried graded foes last out and was tenth in the Sanford (GIII) so you have to wonder who we get today.  His best is really good, but…

Hasn’t run a bad race giving a runner-up effort in his first start, then winning in his second trip to the gate.  The Vet paid a visit between those starts, and may have helped with his focus.  Let’s see if he has what it takes to run well with graded horses. 

Another that got the job done at first asking, and gave an even effort when fifth in the FT Futurity at SA.  No real excuse in that first stakes effort, but this barn does pretty good with the youngsters and this one probably has every right to be looked at as a horse that will improve as time goes on. 

Can’t fault two-for-two, as he broke maiden at SA then came back to wire a field of NM-bred stakes horses.  Both of those wins got him very good SRF numbers, and he may be the one to get past here.  Either way, you have to use him in all of your exotics. 

Broke maiden at TAM in his second trip to the track, but the other two races leave quite a bit to be desired.  I’ll excuse the poor showing in his debut, but he tired in an Alw race at LS where I would have expected a bit more.  Did the wet track get him that day? 

Won handily in his debut at GP back in May and has been given some time since then.  Only a single posted work so either they are trying to keep him on the down-low or… well, I think they are trying to keep him on the down-low.  Sharp barn, they know what they have and I’m guessing he’s a runner. 

 Solid runner that broke maiden in the slop at WO and was second in his debut at CT.  Ran a solid race at SAR when fifth in the Sanford (GIII) and that was a muddy track as well.  His works indicate that he is progressing nicely and should be in the thick of things today. 

COZMAN     4 / 1 / 11                Willie’s Green Card      9 / 1 / 8

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES