Best Pal Stakes, Purse $200.000, Grade 2, 6.5 Furlongs, Dirt for 2 Year Olds
Today at DMR there is another step along the road to help separate the BC Juvenile runners in the Best Pal Stakes. There are 8 runners who have signed on for this year’s edition including 2 who have already shown that they can win at the stakes level. Which horse is going to step up and take the next step and earn a graded stakes win? Let’s take a look at the field and see if we can separate some of these runners :
1-Cool Operator (MB Stables)- This home-bred comes into the race winning 1 of his 2 races, which included a pulling away 2 length win last out at LA in a state-bred race on July 9th. Going into that win he was training up a storm and had posted bullet works in the 2 works leading into that race and both of those works were very fast. If there was any question if he came out of the race well the 2 public works that he posted after the race have shown that he is fine and ready to roll. He worked a very nice 137 an 3 at DMR on July 21st, then followed it up with a bullet 5f dirt work on August 1st at DMR. The ability to work fast at many different levels tells me that the 6.5 furlongs in this race should be no problem for him at all and I know from a conversation I have had with MB Stables he is very high on this one.
2-Pentagon (Serenity Stable)- This big horse comes into the race winning 2 out of his 3 lifetime races, with the only non win coming in a stakes race. After his most recent win a measured 1 length score in an N1x race going 5 an ½ furlongs at ELP, he was purchased by Serenity Stable for $175.000. Since the purchase he has fired off 4 fast 6 furlong works which will make you think that he is ready to roll onto the next level in stakes race. The most impressive of these workouts was his most recent workout which was August 2nd where he worked 110 and 4 on the dirt at Del Mar. This is one you have to keep an eye out in this race.
3-Armor Plate (Barcelona Farms)- He has won 2 of his 3 lifetime races including his past 2 races. He is one of the stakes winners in the race, however his win in the stakes came last out on the turf at Woodbine going 6 furlongs in June. Going into that race he only had 2 public dirt works but since that race that is all we can see. These post stakes win public dirt works are all 5 furlongs on the dirt with a trainer up and all fall between 59 an 59 an 3 which show that this horse is a fast horse. There are two bullet works out including one on July 12th at SA where he was best of 47 working that day. Can he take the next step up and win a graded stakes race? We will find out later today.
4-Dont (NJ Vets)- He comes into the race with 1 win in 2 starts but that win was in a free race at PEN on June 25th. He did race first out at a pay track in FON in a 2 furlong race where he finished 3rd. In going through his public works they are just a cut below most of the horses in this race. With that being said there is a gap in public works from June 21st to August 4th so maybe something is going on at the farm that could put this horse more in the mix. Based upon the free track win and the work times I feel that this one may have a bit too much to do to cross the wire first.
5-Jolly Charley (Asgar) He has won 1 out of 3 races and that was a state-bred MSW race in June. After that race he was stepped up into a state-bred stakes race in July where he finished 2nd by a length after holding the early lead in the race. That race was going 5 an ½ furlongs that day which tells me that he may be up on the pace in this race. His public works are solid and don’t eliminate him from contention in this group at all but there is not that eye popping work out that I like to see with 2 year olds. I don’t think this one can be totally dismissed as he may be on the lead at some point but he probably won’t be a betting choice.
6-Creepy Englishman (D J C Racing Stables)- He comes into the race winning 1 out of 3 races so far, with his win coming 2 races back in a MSW race at CD going 4 an ½ furlongs. He came out of that race well and moved over to ELP in July and tried N1x company where he finished a closing 2nd by 1 length. The problem is he was beaten by Pentagon who is also in the race and is drawn inside here today. There has only been one public work since that race for this horse and it was much slower than normal which makes me think that owner D J C Racing stable was trying something different to try and get everything out of this horse. Can this horse turn the tables on one that beat him last out?
7-Water Mummy (Downwind Stables)- He comes into the race winning 2 out of 3 races including 2 races in a row. The most recent win was a stakes win in July at LA going 5 an ½ furlongs on the dirt, where he won pulling away by ¾ a length. Coming out of the race his public works have been nice with his first being a 6 furlong dirt work going 110 an 4, then followed it up with 2 mile works on the dirt in respectable times for his age. To me it looks like today’s distance my hit this horse right between the eyes based upon the public works. You take the works with the fact that he has already won a stakes race and that may make this one tough in this race.
8- Edwin Drood (Sanny Village)- He has won 1 out of 2 lifetime races, which included a win first time out and a second place finish in his last race which was a N1x race going 6 furlongs in July. Sanny Village saw something from the horse out of that race and dipped in and purchased him for $225.000 the day after the race. I am guessing the purchase was made more off of the blistering 110 and 3 6 furlong dirt work he had on June 28th at AP. After the purchase he was gelded and since then he has only had 1 public work, and that was a fast 6 furlong dirt work at Del Mar on August 1st where he was fastest of 58 going 110 and 3. It looks to me that he has come out of the race well and may be ready to make another move up the class ladder. Can the gelding get this one focused to transfer his morning speed to the afternoon?
This a great 2 year old race with 8 talented 2 year olds signed on to do battle. This is one of the first chances for horses to start getting points for a run into the BC and a win here may be just what it takes to get you in so there is a lot at stake for these baby horses. Here is my prediction. 1-2-8-7
Warbucks
Categories: Grade II
