New shooters expected for Best Pal Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – The California 2-year-old division has gained new members from Florida and the Caribbean in advance of Saturday’s Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar.

Dia de Pago, a maiden race winner at Gulfstream Park on June 18, and Master Ruler, the winner of two races in Puerto Rico, were recently bought privately and sent to California-based trainers.

Dia de Pago was acquired by David and Holly Wilson and has been with trainer Vladimir Cerin for more than a month.

Corey Nakatani will ride Dia de Pago in the $200,000 Best Pal Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs. Dia de Pago worked five furlongs in 1:02 at Del Mar on July 30.

“Corey has worked him the last two times and he likes him,” Cerin said.

A Kentucky-bred colt by Macho Uno, Dia de Pago won his debut in a five-furlong maiden race, closing from fourth in a field of seven.

Master Ruler won two allowance races at five furlongs in Puerto Rico in April and early June before being bought by Mickey Gonzalez’s M Racing. Sunday, Master Ruler had his final workout for the Best Pal – six furlongs in 1:14.20 from the gate.

“I’ve had five weeks to get him ready,” new trainer John Sadler said. “He looks game.

“They say he can run from off the pace. He trains steadily.”

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The Best Pal Stakes has a projected field of eight led by Run Away, the winner of the Santa Anita Juvenile at 5 1/2 furlongs on July 3; and Serengeti, the 11-length winner of a maiden race at five furlongs at Santa Anita on June 25. Other expected starters are Arawak, Armour Plate, Fleetwood, and Ride to the Wire.

Cerin knows Dia de Pago must improve to be a factor, but says the division is one that can be in flux through the summer.

“There are some salty 2-year-olds in the race,” he said. “They change overnight at this age.”

Sunday’s leading race is the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs. The leading sprint for females at the summer meeting, the $100,000 Rancho Bernardo is likely to have a field of five – Bendable, Constellation, Munny Spunt, Rockport Babe and Skye Diamonds.

Bendable won the Grade 3 Desert Stormer Stakes at Santa Anita on June 18. Skye Diamonds and Constellation were first and second in the Grade 2 Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 8.