8/7/21

  7   DMR     Best Pal Stakes (GII)

$200.000    2yo     6f   Dirt      120lbs  +penalties

I told you I’m not good at handicapping these baby stakes, and neither is the general public… evidently.  Liberia, sent off as the 78/1 outsider, stayed just in behind the early pace, moved up through the far turn to hit the front turning for home and held sway of all challengers to take the Best Pal Stakes (GII) by a half length.  The running time was 1:09.26 for the six furlongs over the fast DMR main track.  Grouse Mountain closed a big gap in the late going to take the runner-up spot, with Chai West in third.  Pace-setter Bronze Slayer tired a bit in the late going but took home the minor money.

The field of twelve loaded into the gate and were away with Bronze Slayer on the early gas with Confirmation towards his inside, Spice on his outside, then a gap back to the trio of Ball Of Fire, Commander Chai and Liberia on the outside of that group, then another gap back to Chai West on the inside of Croton Road.  Then a gap of two back to the trailing foursome of Grouse Mountain, Blasphemy, Come To Poppa and Up In Smoke.

They made their way down the backside and were nearing the far turn with three and a half furlongs to run, Bronze Slayer by a neck with Confirmation on the rail, Spiced on the outside of that trio, then a gap to Liberia, Commander Chai and Ball Of Fire on the rail.  Then a length and a half to Croton Road, Chai West skimming the rail, another two back to Grouse Mountain, Come To Papa on the outside of Blasphemy and Up In Smoke was now the trailer. 

Moving through the far turn and to the top of the lane with three sixteenths of a mile to run and we had a real horse race on our hands.  Bronze Slayer in front but long-shot Liberia moved up very quickly to look the leader in the eye.  Spiced between that pair, with every chance in the world, then a length back to Confirmation on the rail, Commander Chai out wide, Chai West and Ball Of Fire between that pair, Croton Road out widest of all, then a length and a half to Grouse Mountain, Come To Papa, Blasphemy and Up In Smoke. 

Deep stretch and to the wire… Liberia pulling away from the field as the pace was beginning to tire but the late closers were flying home… inside the final 150-yards Liberia had the lead as Grouse Mountain was moving forward from the middle of the track and Chai West from the rail, but it was too late as Liberia was able to nurse that lead to the wire and win by a half length.  Grouse Mountain was second with Chai West third, then a length back to Bronze Slayer in fourth.  Up in Smoke closed well to be fifth, Ball Of Fire and Commander Chai were inseparable in sixth, Croton Road eighth, Come To Papa ninth, Spiced tenth, Blasphemy eleventh and Confirmation closed this one out.

Liberia is a bay 2yo gelding by Wheep – Me 2, by No Way Dude, and he was bred in Cal by his owner, Waldo.  This was his second win, first stakes score from four trips to the gate, and he now has earnings of $164.400.  Congratulations to the connections!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast            Time: :22⁴  :45⁴  :57²  1:09¹
$1 Exacta: 12 – 1 Paid 469.30              $1 Trifecta: 12 – 1 – 2 Paid 1,382.90
Scratched: None

Liberia sat just behind the pace, moved up on the turn, took over into the lane opening a clear lead, held sway late.  Grouse Mountain rated off of the pace to the lane, asked at the furlong pole and closed well, just missed in a game effort.  Chai West taken back early, steady gain, closing late from the inside, best foot too late.  Bronze Slayer sent from the gate, led while under pressure, headed into the lane, out-finished.  Up In Smoke trailed to the far turn, closed a late gap.  Ball Of Fire gave an even effort.  Commander Chai raced in behind the pace, up to contend into the lane, out-kicked late.  Croton Road was not a factor.  Come To Poppa outrun.  Spiced up to force the pace to the top of the lane, folded.  Blasphemy outrun.  Confirmation flashed speed, stopped.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES