Best Pal Stakes 2012: Field Overview

For two-year-olds vying for top juvenile status, there are few stepping stones as reliable as the Best Pal Stakes (G2). Hosted annually on the Polytrack of Del Mar Racetrack at a distance of 6 1/2 furlongs, the Best Pal has established itself as a hot spot for emerging talent. Last year, Grade I winner Creative Cause swept by future Derby and Preakness champion I'll Have Another to capture the race's 41st running. The year before, Best Pal winner JP's Gusto went on to perform well in a series of black type events. 2009's victor, Lookin At Lucky, went on to capture the Preakness Stakes.

In the spirit of curiosity and a love for watching young horses develop, let's take a look at the pack of juveniles entered to race in its 42nd edition.

Creative Cause flying to victory in 2011's Best Pal Stakes

(1) Heir of Storm. A colt trained by Alexis Barba. A month back, he captured a 5 1/2 furlong maiden special weight at Hollywood Park. While the final time for his victory was extremely slow, Heir of Storm has been working nicely at both Hollywood and Del Mar. Last Wednesday, he recorded a sharp four furlongs in 47.40 -- the 8th fastest work out of 52 over the same distance. A week before that, at Hollywood, his breeze of 47.20 for the four furlongs was marked the fastest out of 35 horses. While I'm not too impressed with this colt's debut, his works seem to say that he's not to be ruled out.

(2) Moreno. A colt trained by Eric Guillot. In his only race, Moreno overcame a very poor start to finish third behind Heir of Storm. While I consider that race to have been an especially weak one, Moreno seemed to play the role of that one horse who is bound to learn a lot from a troubled debut (watch the race; he was bumped around quite a bit). He has been working handily over Del Mar's main track in nice, solid times. Moreno may be ready to take a huge step up.

(3) Miss Empire. A filly trained by Peter Miller. She has raced three times, her only victory coming in the form of a 4 length runaway in the Cinderella Stakes. Among the eight horses she defeated were Unusual Way, the winner of Miss Empire's debut and Tilde, who bounced back with a three length victory in the CA Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes. In her most recent start, Miss Empire finished third behind Bob Baffert's highly touted Executiveprivilege. While it comes off as a bit strange that Miss Empire is now being staged against the boys in a G2 event, I conclude that her connections know her best -- perhaps Miss Empire really is ready for a big sort of comeback. 2 year old fillies are notoriously inconsistent and difficult to bet on; if she's anything like the millions of females before her, Miss Empire may jolt back onto the racing scene with a very fine Best Pal performance. From her recent works, nothing but maintenance drills, it is very hard to tell.

(4) Scherer Magic. A gelding claimed into the Sadler barn out of a 7 length victory against maiden claimers, Scherer Magic parades into the Best Pal as the undefeated champion of the Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (G3). I am always cheering for claimers gone black type, and certainly hope that Scherer Magic can string himself a garland of stakes wins. However, the final time for his Hollywood Juvenile win was slower than the fillies' stakes, carded at Hollywood Park at the same day and distance. His debut, too, was notably slow, just over 58 seconds for the 5 furlongs. The flip side of this is that Scherer Magic has been working very well; only days ago, he fired a 6 furlong bullet. Whether or not this gelding can win may be determined by the ferocity of the rest of the field. I have little doubt that Scherer Magic will put in a nice effort -- the question is if he's capable of persevering against tougher competition.

(5) Heir Kitty. A filly trained by Peter Miller. The Best Pal will serve as her introduction to dirt; Heir Kitty's only start was in a 6 furlong turf maiden special against other fillies. After pressuring the pace right from the get-go, Heir Kitty stole the lead and swept away with a gap of 4 lengths to the second place finisher. She has been working impressively over Del Mar's All Weather Track and seems to be entering the race on top form. While clearly talented, Heir Kitty is far from a stable betting decision. A circle of questions surround her, ranging from is she fast enough? to how will she take to the dirt? If you like a mystery, have at it.

(6) Amarish. A gelding trained by Jeff Bonde. Prior to self-destructing in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship, Amarish stacked up a maiden win of a gaping, 7 lengths and a 4 length triumph in the William L. Proctor Memorial Stakes -- both at Hollywood Park. I was extremely impressed with this colt's credentials, and went on to write an article about him. Before, that is, Amarish flailed on the lead in his third start and weakened into a very green sixth. Considering the razor-sharp fractions he set, it comes to no surprise the outcome of the race. Amarish set himself up for a definite failure. An untried, 2 year old colt, surviving off those fractions? I don't think so. That being said, the sudden failure might prove very good for this colt's future. Providing that he doesn't crash and burn as so many of the William Proctor's one-dimensional winners have, Amarish may learn to alter his running style and climb back into the Winner's Circle. While his only work at Del Mar, the slowest out of 53 others, tends to put the teeth on edge, it would certainly be a very, very good thing if Jeff Bonde is trying to teach the gelding to slow down and relax off the pace. I'm not - yet - giving up on this horse. He'll have to perform very well, though, to regain my respect.

(7) K Court. A colt trained by Janet Armstrong. It comes as no surprise that K Court is the longest price in the field. He has, after all, failed to find the Winner's Circle in the only two of his three starts that did not come in claiming company (2 furlong claiming company, to further elaborate). While he's coming out of a sharp blow of 59.80 for the 5 furlongs -- the second fastest out of twenty horses -- I can find very few things to like about this horse. Yes, this is horse racing. Anything can happen. Regardless, I would be very, very surprised if K Court held them off. He needs to take a huge leap of improvement.

(8) Know More. A colt trained by Doug O'Neill; bound to be a fan favorite as he's from the same barn as your Derby and Preakness winner. The mystery of the field, as he will be making his debut in this Grade 2 event. I have no opinions to press about this colt. If you like him, bet him. If you don't, don't. It would certainly be impressive if Know More is to break his maiden in stakes company! 

My Selections:

Miss Empire

 Moreno

Amarish

Who do you like in today's Best Pal? 

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