Head to Head: Handicapping the Best Pal at Del Mar

The $200,000 Grade 3 Best Pal Stakesis the first of Del Mar’s two graded stakes for 2-year-old males, and it is aprep race for the Del Mar Futurity (G1).

Named for the three-time California champion who won this race when it was called the Balboa Stakes, the Best Pal has yielded two 2-year-old champs in recent years, Lookin at Lucky (2009),who captured the following year’s Preakness, and Nyquist (2015) who wore the rosesin 2016.

This year, a field of fivehopefuls lines up, including two flashy, expensive babies from the Bob Baffert barn.

Ashley Tamulonis of Coast To Coast and Laurie Ross of Pedigree Power examine the field.

Point-counterpoint

Final thoughts

Laurie: In thelast dozen years, only two Best Pal winners didn’t win their previous start.One was third in the Bashford Manor, and one, Know More, made his winning debutin Best Pal.

Speed rules. Pacesetters or pressers won 75 percent of the timeand favorites 53 percent.

Bob Baffert has won the Best Pal Stakes trophy ninetimes. But in the last 12 years, he’s taken it easy on the entry box,entering only six horses and gaining two victories. In 2011, both of his chargesfinished off the board at short odds. Hopefully, that won’t be the case thisyear.

Prince of Monaco had a sharp pre-race gate work, anddespite his size, he broke straight and with his partner. Granted, his mindneeds to catch up with his body, and he’s doing everything on talent, but Ilike how he relaxes and does everything effortlessly. Also, although JuanHernandez sticks with Muth, Flavien Prat flies in to ride Prince of Monaco.

Tranche has experience, took to California racinglike a hedge fund trader to money, and comes into the Best Pal a fresh horse. I'll tag him to cash on the show spot.

Ashley: On paper, this is a match race between the two BobBaffert colts, Muth and Prince of Monaco. Both had flashy debut wins, but Muth was quicker out of the gate and faster through the first half-mile. JuanHernandez was aboard both pricey purchases in their debuts and sticks with Muthwhile Flavien Prat picks up the mount on Prince of Monaco. For me, it’s tellingwho a trainer’s go-to rider will be aboard.

Although the top two spots appear to be locked up, thethird spot could conceivably go to any of the other three runners, even Who IsPavel, whom I passed on. Not much separates Raging Torrent from Tranche’s bestrace by the numbers, but Tranche obviously has the experience advantage.However, I will bank on Doug O’Neill’s overall superior experience in stakes tocarry the day and fill my trifecta.