O'Neill pair have contrasting styles for Best Pal
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Doug O’Neill already has won one 2-year-old stakes this week, having captured the Graduation on Wednesday with Wake Up Nick, and he will take two healthy cuts at adding the Grade 2, $200,000 Best Pal Stakes on Sunday at Del Mar.
O’Neill will send out the speedy Bad Read Sanchez and the late-running Henry’s Holiday, both of whom appear to have solid chances in a wide-open race that drew eight entrants going 6 1/2 furlongs.
The field could end up being smaller. Trainer Peter Miller on Friday said he was weighing whether to run Rowdy Dylan – who comes off a maiden win at Los Alamitos – or await the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on closing day, Sept. 3.
Bad Read Sanchez is looking to reverse the outcome of the Willard Proctor Memorial at Los Alamitos on July 13, when Best Pal entrant Story to Tell beat Bad Read Sanchez by 1 1/4 lengths.
In the Best Pal, Bad Read Sanchez benefits from a subtle shift in post positions and a subtle shift in weights. Bad Read Sanchez was drawn inside of Story to Tell in the Proctor, but now Story to Tell has the rail, with Bad Read Sanchez landing post 4. In addition, Bad Read Sanchez drops two pounds off the Proctor, and Story to Tell gains two pounds, resulting in a spread of four pounds, 123-119.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Story to Tell. Over the past three years, trainer Dan Hendricks is 3 for 51 with a $0.43 ROI with 2-year-olds on synthetic surfaces.Click for more details. – Matt Bernier
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O’Neill on Friday said Bad Read Sanchez “came out of the race at Los Alamitos real well, and he had a good work over the track here.”
“With that long stretch at Los Alamitos, it’s kind of a funky configuration for a horse who was just making his second start,” O’Neill added.
Like Bad Read Sanchez, Henry’s Holiday is making his third start. He most recently was fourth in the Santa Anita Juvenile on June 22 and now gets an extra furlong with which to work.
“I don’t know if he’s good enough, but he’ll be coming,” said O’Neill, who trains Henry’s Holiday for the Success Racing partnership put together by his brother, Dennis.
KEY CONTENDERS
BAD READ SANCHEZ (Beyers: 69-75)
◗ Displayed sharp speed from an inside draw to win his debut, then was second-best to Story to Tell in the Proctor three weeks later.
◗ Of concern is that his Beyer in his second start was lower than the one he earned in his debut.
◗ Perhaps he will benefit from the experience of his second start, but he also must negotiate an additional 110 yards this time.
STORY TO TELL (Beyers: 72-74-74)
◗ Of the top contenders, he is the most experienced and accomplished. He has won twice in three starts, his only loss coming against Wake Up Nick, who came back to win the Graduation.
◗ Based on his running style, extra distance will be appreciated.
HENRY’S HOLIDAY (Beyers: 69-76)
◗ Crushed rivals in his debut, then ran on decently for fourth in the Santa Anita Juvenile.
◗ Both Bad Read Sanchez and Story to Tell are coming back on three weeks’ rest and are racing for the third time in six weeks, while he comes into the race fresher, having been off since June 22.
SKYWAY (Beyers: 66-N/A)
◗ Returns to Polytrack, the surface over which he was an impressive winner of his debut at Keeneland on April 5.
◗ In his only subsequent start, he was third in the Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs on dirt.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Conquest Bigluck E. Over the past two years, trainer Mark Casse is 5 for 10 (90 percent in the money) with a $2.49 ROI with 2-year-old second time starters going from dirt to synthetic.Click for more details. – Matt Bernier