Del Mar Grade 3 Best Pal Analysis: Final Weekend Stakes Sunday

The racing week draws to a close on Sunday at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. The card features the grade 3 Best Pal Stakes where Muth looks tough to beat.

Best Pal Stakes

The Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes, held annually at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, is a thrilling showcase of young and promising two-year-old thoroughbreds. This race, contested over 6 furlongs on the dirt track, serves as a significant stepping stone in the early careers of these talented juveniles.

Best Pal

Although the race has been contested since 1967, it was known as the Balboa Stakes until 1996. In that year California bred Best Pal, who won the race in 1990 and would go on to finish 2nd in the Kentucky Derby, passed away suddenly from a heart attack.

The race was renamed in honor of the fallen champion who held the record for purse money amassed by a Cal bred in 1996 and has maintained his namesake since.

Brilliant Talent

The Best Pal Stakes is renowned for attracting a competitive field, often featuring horses that have already displayed early speed and a penchant for success in their maiden or early allowance races.

Since the passing of Best Pal, the race has produced a number of key Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup winners including Timber Country (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile & Preakness), Looking at Lucky (Preakness), and Nyquist (Kentucky Derby).

Road to the Breeders’ Cup

The stakes level of this race, despite being a Grade 3, often draws a significant crowd and garners widespread attention due to its importance in identifying contenders for the season’s premier two-year-old events.

The winners of the Best Pal Stakes frequently move on to bigger stages, impacting the narrative of the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and providing fans with exciting prospects to follow throughout the racing year.

Sunday Full Card Analysis

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club- 1

Post: 2:00 PM PT; $82k Maiden Special Weight going 6 1/2 f on dirt; Entries: 8

• The top selection is #7 BOLD CHOICE (7-2), possessing the pedigree to be a major player here. This horse has shown races good enough to outperform this group.
• #1 SCARY FAST RIDE (4-1) is expected to improve from the first start and remain competitive in this race, handling the conditions from previous starts.
• #4 SEAHAWK MARY (20-1) presents a value option to consider underneath on most tickets.
• #2 WORK N FLIRT (8-1) seems to be running for the minor placings in this contest.

Selections: 7 – 1 – 4 – 2

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club- 2

Post: 2:35 PM PT; $44k Claiming going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 7

• The top pick is #7 PRESIDENT Z (5-2) with the highest overall power rating in the group. This horse is trained by the Blacker barn and ridden by Hernandez.
• #3 STAY IN THE GAME (3-1) appears to be a major player based on speed figures. This horse is projected to sit mid-pack and make a late run.
• #2 STAFFORD TO KUPP (6-1) could be a contender in this race, showing solid early pace figures in a field that lacks front running speed.
• #4 TOO MUCH INFO (6-1) has proven ability in these conditions, with tactical speed to stalk and pounce.

Selections: 7 – 3 – 2 – 4

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club- 3

Post: 3:08 PM PT; $82k Maiden Special Weight going 5 1/2 f on dirt; Entries: 9

• The top choice is #2 FEISTY MITOLE (5-2), expected to improve from the first start. This horse has the pedigree to be a major player and has handled similar conditions before.
• #5 LAURENT (6-1) debuts here with a shot in this race, under the combination of Eurton and Hernandez.
• #3 ELEGANT (8-5) debuts for the Baffert barn and isn’t without hope.
• #8 OUTSPOKEN (6-1) debuts with a chance, under the combination of Mccarthy and Rispoli.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 3 – 8

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club- 4

Post: 3:38 PM PT; $200k Best Pal S. going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 5

• The top selection is #4 MUTH (3-5), expected to improve from the first start and should handle the distance. This horse deserves respect under the combination of Baffert and Hernandez. The debut speed figure is nothing to sneeze at.
• #2 TRANCHE (4-1) has been running against some really solid company and should take a liking to the pace of this race.
• #1 RAGING TORRENT (15-1) is a price horse best considered for underneath positions on tickets. This horse has proven ability in these conditions and has been solid recently.
• #5 PRINCE OF MONACO (9-5) should improve from the first start and has tactical speed to stay close to the front runners. Like the favorite this one is trained by Bob Baffert. It is worth noting that Flavien Prat is named to ride. He is currently stationed at Saratoga. It’s bad economics to fly cross country to ride a horse that has no chance.

Selections: 4 – 2 – 1 – 5

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club- 5

Post: 4:10 PM PT; $82k Maiden Special Weight going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 9

• The top pick is #2 CHROMEFLASH (4-1), expected to improve from the first start and has the best speed figures. This horse comes into the race in good form.
• #9 DR. NO NO (9-5) is a major player in this race, showing races good enough to outperform this group.
• #6 LAST CALL PAUL (4-1) is expected to improve from the first start and should be competitive. This horse has been solid recently.
• #5 SIR LUCAS (20-1) is a price horse worth considering under the combination of Scolamieri and Aguilar.

Selections: 2 – 9 – 6 – 5

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club- 6

Post: 4:40 PM PT; $62k Claiming going 1 m on turf; Entries: 11

• The top selection is #9 EXULTATION (7-2), showing tactical speed and the ability to sit just off the leaders. This horse makes sense based on speed figures.
• #10 BURNIN TURF (6-1) appears to be a major player, being the class of the field. This horse also makes sense based on speed figures.
• #5 MAJESTIC EAGLE (15-1) is a price horse that seems to be a contender. This horse shouldn’t have trouble with the distance and is projected to sit mid-pack before making a late run.
• #6 EASTERN OCEAN (4-1) should be competitive in this spot based on speed figures.

Selections: 9 – 10 – 5 – 6

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club- 7

Post: 5:12 PM PT; $83k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 m on dirt; Entries: 8

• The top selection is #8 COWBOY MIKE (5-2), expected to run a big race based on recent performances. This horse should be part of the early pace.
• #4 DEVIL BE ME (2-1) is a contender with the ability to make a well-timed run at the leaders. This horse has races good enough to outperform this group.
• #6 GYPSY TEARS (15-1) is a price horse that could be a fringe contender based on speed figures.
• #7 IN VRONSKY STYLE (3-1) has a chance to contend, likely staying in the first flight of runners.

Selections: 8 – 4 – 6 – 7

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club- 8

Post: 5:44 PM PT; $83k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 m on turf; Entries: 12

• The top pick is #5 X J RASCAL (5-1), deserving respect under the combination of Mulhall and Rispoli. This horse has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #8 SMART CODE (4-1) appears to be a major player, showing tactical speed and the ability to sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This horse goes out for the Glatt barn and gets Prat in the irons.
• #4 LEGISLATOR (8-1) should be competitive in this spot, and the distance shouldn’t be an issue. This horse could benefit from the right setup.
• #9 ZE’BUL (8-1) should also be competitive with races good enough to outperform this group. This horse may benefit from a hot pace up front.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 4 – 9

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club- 9

Post: 6:14 PM PT; $42k Maiden Claiming going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 15

• The top selection is #15 STRANGE ADDICTION (4-1), the class of the field and able to handle these conditions based on previous starts.
• #1 C HER BEAUTY (8-1) should be competitive, running evenly and benefiting from a fair pace scenario.
• #5 ROSIE ANN RULES (4-1) could be in the mix, making sense on speed figures.
• #2 JUST IS (8-1) has the ability to handle these conditions based on previous starts.

Selections: 15 – 1 – 5 – 2

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club- 10

Post: 6:44 PM PT; $43k Starter Allowance going 1 m on turf; Entries: 11

• The top pick is #5 NATIONAL ROAD (7-2), showing races good enough to outperform this group and possessing the top overall power rating.
• #9 TALLIS (5-1) could be a contender, benefitting from a hot pace up front. This horse looks to be the class of the field.
• #6 GREENBOW (4-1) is a fringe contender with the potential for the right race setup.
• #1 GOLDENEYE (6-1) is likely best for underneath positions on tickets, going out for the Eurton barn and ridden by Maldonado.

Selections: 5 – 9 – 6 – 1