8/4-5 (DMR): Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1); Best Pal S. (G2)

[Port Conway Lane]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Yeah well...

Hey I'm wondering about something...

A first time starter just won the Best Pal. How often has this happened... first time starter winning a stakes race?

Good question. I think it happens most often in restricted 2yo state bred stakes, less often in open stakes and must be rare in graded stakes.

Two names struck me when I saw your question. In Alydar's first start (as the favorite) he was defeated by Affirmed in a stakes race.

A more obscure filly I recall was Masked Barb winning a resricted stakes in the mid 80's. The memory is clouded a bit but I think she was trained by Bernie Bond who was practically unbeatable in juvenile races. I'd bet a dime to a dollar Bond sent out more than a handful of fts stakes winners in the 80's but can't recall the other names. Masked Barb stood out because she paid double digits.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Port Conway Lane

Good question. I think it happens most often in restricted 2yo state bred stakes, less often in open stakes and must be rare in graded stakes.

Two names struck me when I saw your question. In Alydar's first start (as the favorite) he was defeated by Affirmed in a stakes race.

A more obscure filly I recall was Masked Barb winning a resricted stakes in the mid 80's. The memory is clouded a bit but I think she was trained by Bernie Bond who was practically unbeatable in juvenile races. I'd bet a dime to a dollar Bond sent out more than a handful of fts stakes winners in the 80's but can't recall the other names. Masked Barb stood out because she paid double digits.

Didn't know any of this so thank you!

i think include me out can give royal delta a run for her money if royal delta chooses to go in the ladies classic. i predict we will see the same field again in the zenyatta stakes (maybe except for switch who can't go 2 turns) and ladies classic of course i expect the ladies classic to be a tad tougher. i've always liked include me out and hope she does well at the end of the year.


Know More was very impressive in that Best Pal. Nice debut and maybe it'll be tough for the next races to come for them prep races leading up to the Juvenile.