Phone Booth, He Is No Lie, Kennyten will see Hughes in Del Mar Futurity
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Losses by Phone Booth and He Is No Lie in Saturday’s Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar have not deterred trainer Doug O’Neill.
The same could be said regarding Vladimir Cerin, who trains Kennyten.
Cerin and O’Neill indicated on Sunday that their runners from the Best Pal Stakes are bound for the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 6, a race firmly on the schedule of Best Pal winner Hughes.
Hughes was the dominant runner in a field of five in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs, leading throughout by 7 3/4 lengths. Hughes, the 3-2 favorite, was timed in 1:09.61.
Phone Booth closed from last of five to finish second in his first start since a win in a maiden race on July 19.
Kennyten, the 8-5 second choice, emerged from the Best Pal Stakes “a little cut up,” Cerin said.
“He should be fine in a couple of days,” Cerin said.
He Is No Lie, the 2-1 third choice, was beaten 13 1/2 lengths after a significant stumble at the start. He Is No Lie was fourth throughout.
“He had a very unlucky break,” O’Neill said on Sunday. “He looks good this morning.”
Hughes is unbeaten in two starts, and gave Baffert a record 13th win in the Best Pal and his fifth in a row.
“He did it like it was nothing,” Baffert said on Sunday.
Hughes, by Into Mischief, races for a large partnership that includes Front Row Club, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables.
Net Par, Daytona Diamond target Cal-bred stakes
Two juvenile winners at Del Mar on Friday and Saturday will race in California-bred stakes at the end of the current summer meeting.
Net Par won his second consecutive race in Friday’s Graduation Stakes for statebreds at 5 1/2 furlongs, finishing a nose in front of King Kameha.
Trainer Antonio Garcia said on Sunday that Net Par is scheduled to start in the $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes at six furlongs for statebreds on Sept. 7, closing day of the current meeting.
“That’s the plan now,” Garcia said. “I think he’ll be a decent Cal-bred."
Net Par closed from fourth in a field of seven to take the lead in early stretch.
“I think it helped a little bit that he hesitated at the start,” Garcia said. “He’s got a lot of maturing to do. He’s one of the temperamental colts.”
Net Par races for owners and breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam, who through Saturday had won seven races since the season began on July 17.
On Saturday, the first-time starter Daytona Diamond was reluctant to load in the gate for a maiden race for statebred 2-year-old fillies. Once underway, Daytona Diamond closed from sixth of seven with a quick move on the turn to win by 5 1/4 lengths at 10-1.
The result will lead to a start in the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for statebred 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs on Sept. 4, trainer Carla Gaines said.
“I think it makes sense to go against Cal-breds,” Gaines said.
Daytona Diamond races for owner and breeder Henry Williamson.
-additional reporting by David Grening
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