It’s juvenile season in horse racing, the time when 2-year-olds start to emerge as new stars in the sport. If you’re new to horse racing, horses generally begin their racing careers at age 2, and move on to bigger stages starting with their 3-year-old campaigns. These August 2-year-old stakes also help to sort out who might be contenders for the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, to be run again this year at Del Mar.
Last year’s winner, Getaway Car, went on to a good 4th place finish in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile. He won the Sunland Derby this year, an example of moving from 2-to-3, and performing on a higher level stage. The 2016 Kentucky Derby winner, Nyquist, won this race in 2015. Far stranger things have happened in horse racing than the Derby winner being in this weekend’s field.
The race itself is named for Best Pal, one of the greatest Cal-breds of all time. He won this race in 1990 prior to it being named in his honor, and went on to win stakes at ages 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. He’s an all-time great, and it’s absolutely appropriate for this showcase to be named after him.
Let’s meet the field, and try to take down the middle pick 4. If you're looking for a spot to place your Pick 4, check out our friends at AmWager! They've got a 100% deposit match up to $150 right now for all new customers - and they're live in California!
Grade 3 Best Pal. 6 furlongs, dirt. 2 year-olds. $150,000.
1. Brigante. 6/1. Jockey: Hector Berrios. Trainer: Doug O’Neill.
Brigante is one of two maidens in the race, which is common in 2-year-old stakes, especially. This year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty, broke his maiden in October of last year in the Grade 3 Street Sense at Churchill Downs. Brigante is an interesting study, as his one career race came on the turf. Trainer Doug O’Neill is more than adept at surface changes, winning this variety at 19%, more than solid. The works have been lights out lately; the ability is there.
Comment: include in exacta plays.
2. Punto Forty. 4/1. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: Doug O’Neill.
Punto Forty was impressive on debut at Los Alamitos, topping betting favorite St Petersburg by open lengths. The layout of the Los Al course is different than most track, with a slight move to the right before finishing the left turn and running for home. No matter, he handled it like a pro, moving through the two path and pulling away. Jockey Antonio Fresu keeps the mount, and there’s an argument that he’s riding as well as anyone in California, currently. Like all the entrants, Punto Forty has been working well, and from the gate, too.
Comment: contender.
3. St Petersburg. 5/1. Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
St Petersburg is the other maiden, this one trained by Bob Baffert. He was a third-place finisher in that aforementioned maiden run at Los Al, but this is a massively hyped son of Constitution that the connections are hoping will break that maiden, and soon. He’s been stabled at Los Al, but moved to Del Mar recently, where he turned in a bullet work. (This group sure loves the mornings!). We’ll toss here, but only on the maiden outcome. He’ll be a contender soon.
Comment: toss.
4. Pavlovian. 8/1. Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. Trainer: Doug O’Neill.
Pavlovian is the sole Cal-bred in the field, and I’m sure the connections of Best Pal are hoping he pulls this one out. It’s the least likely outcome, as his sole win came against Cal-breds at Santa Anita. He’s simply not fast enough to win here, but could be a factor in the Cal-bred ranks.
Comment: toss.
5. Desert Gate. 3/5. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
Desert Gate will go off at odds of 1/9, and he’ll be a worthy mega-favorite. In terms of competition, he could take a step back today, and all of his competitors take one forward, and he would still win. For gambling purposes, he’s the horse to beat on the card if you want to cash in a big way; he’s also the most logical winner on the entire card, so bet against at your own peril.
Comment: most likely winner.
The Sporting Tribune Wager: $1 Pick 4, starts race 4 ($32): 5 / ALL / 1,2,6 / 2. Good luck!