DRF Plus Graded Stakes Analysis: Best Pal Stakes

Many SoCal players may not be all that familiar with trainer Mark Casse. One thing they need to understand – he knows exactly what he’s doing, particularly with 2-year-olds. When he opted to send a string here for the summer meet he knew his juveniles would be running headlong into other promising 2-year-olds from the barns of Baffert, O’Neill, Sadler, etc. He came anyway and in this 6 1/2-furlong event may hold the goods with SKYWAY.

The son of Sky Mesa may revel on this Polytrack surface, too. After all, he won his debut on Keeneland’s Polytrack April 5, galloping home an easy 6 3/4-length winner. After that came a bit of a freshening but Casse thought enough to next try the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs June 28. SKYWAY stalked the pace, was in a bi tight going down the backstretch and while unable to challenge big one-two finishers Cinco Charlie and Silverhill stayed on well for 3rd. In fact, he finished 8 1/4 lengths clear of the others.

To give you an idea of the nice runners he chased that day winner Cinco Charlie came back to be a fine 3rd in the Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga July 19. Silverhill wasn’t disgraced in 5th.

SKYWAY has some pedigree to bolster his cause as six of his eight siblings are winners including Ava K. (three SWs, Grade 3 SP).

He must deal with some proven West Coast form here, namely in the form of STORY TO TELL. That runner easily won his Santa Anita debut and was a smart rallying 2nd in the Santa Anita Juvenile there June 22. That run looks even better when you note the horse who beat him by less than a length, Wake Up Nick, came right back to win the Graduation Stakes here (for Cal-breds) last week. STORY TO TELL further flattered the Santa Anita Juvenile form by then winning the Willard Proctor at Los Alamitos July 13. He’s no doubt the one to beat and logical favorite.

The good news, though, is the presence of STORY TO TELL helps keep your price buoyed on SKYWAY, possibly staying in the 4-1/9-2 range. That looks appealing from here, particularly as STORY TO TELL is also stuck on the fence. Another horse of interest is BAD READ SANCHEZ. The son of Warrior’s Reward made quite a splash in his debut at Santa Anita June 20, dueling early and drawing off to romp by 10 lengths. That run looks better, too, when you note the runner-up (Red Button) came right back to win.

That was enough to make him the heavy 9-10 favorite in the Willard Proctor at Los Alamitos July 13. He pressed the pace and kept to his task well, but couldn’t quite finish with Sunday rival STORY TO TELL, finishing 2nd beaten 1 1/4 lengths. Still, that was a fine run and while it’s first time on synthetic here he did work well over this track July 27. And those who took him at 9-10 last time will surely like today’s price better, as he’s probably somewhere in the 3-1 range.