Quote:
Originally Posted by Cannon Shell
Doug was like 8 years old when Best Pal was running. Like i said he was good on about 10 occasions.
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I'm not quite that young.
As I learned much later in life ... Ian Jory fucl<ing sucks as a trainer .. and Best Pal won 4 Graded Stakes (including 2 Grade 1's) as a 2yo for Jory .. and he ran 2nd in Kentucky Derby for Jory as well.
When Best Pal left Jory's barn ... in his very first start he won the Swaps by 4 lengths - Corporate Report was 2nd - and he just missed in the Haskell next out and won the Travers following that. In start #2 for Best Pal after leaving Jory's barn ... he won the Pacific Classic, as a 3yo, in track record time - with a 118 Beyer - defeating quality older horses like Unbridled, Twilight Agenda, Farma Way, and Festin.
Here is Best Pal's 4-year-old season ...
He won the Santa Anita Handicap in blowout fashion with a still to this day record 123 Beyer - despite suffering a quarter crack before the race.
He was supposed to scratch out of the Oaklawn Park Handicap after problems with a foot .. they ran him and he beat a horse coming off of back to back Gr 1 wins and a next out Gr 1 winner.
Best Pal got hurt in the Pimlico Special - missed the rest of the year - and was never the same beast again.... although he did thump handicap champion Bertrando in the Hollywood Gold Cup the following year.
I'm not sure if you agree - but I think it's really stupid to hold the latter part of a past-prime geldings career against him...especially when you're talking about a horse who won a 5 furlong debut race - won 5 stakes races at age 2 - competed in the Classic races - and was still good enough to miss winning the Big Cap at age 7 by just a lip.
How many of precocious heavily raced 2yo's that compete in the Classics - do you see running giant races at age 7 and 8?
Don't say Funny Cide either .. that lone dazzling 97 Beyer win he had as a 7yo came at Finger Lakes for crying out loud.... does his pathetic late form diminish that he was once even money against Empire Maker for a shot at a triple crown?