Getaway Car © Benoit Photo
SF Racing, Starlight Racing and partners’ Getaway Car was simply too quick for three rivals Sunday at Del Mar in the 54th edition of the Best Pal Stakes, finishing an easy five and a half lengths to the good in the six-furlong headliner.
The $700,000 yearling by Curlin scored his second victory in his second start, the other one having come in a straight maiden race at Del Mar on July 20, Opening Day of the meet.
Trainer Bob Baffert once again called on his “go to” guy in rider Juan Hernandez and the pair clicked for their third stakes win of the session.
Final time for the Grade III, $150,000 race was 1:10.73. Getaway Car picked up $90,000 for the victory and now sports $135,000 in earnings.
Finishing second was Bow River Ranch’s Mischief River, who had a length and a quarter on Mrs. John Magnier and Mrs. Paul Shanahan’s filly White Sands. Finishing fourth and last in the lineup was Calumet Farm’s Tiz Happy.
The winner, a stout 3-10 favorite, returned $2.60 and $2.10. There was no show wagering on the race.
Del Mar now takes a break and will return to racing with an eight-race card on Thursday, August 15. Fist post is 2 p.m.
JUAN HERNANDEZ (Getaway Car, winner) – “You know what, going into the gate it looked like he was going to have a lot of speed against him. But in my mind I am going to take advantage of my position. The gate opened, my horse broke in front, and I just decided to let him go. He was very comfortable on the lead. He is really fast, so he cleared everybody. I just waited till the quarter pole, where his ears went up. I asked him to pick it up again and he did. Can’t wait for the next one”.
BOB BAFFERT (Getaway Car, winner) – “This guy’s been a lot of fun. Great name and he’s fast. He wasn’t slowing down. He’s got a beautiful stride. Just a beautiful way of doing it. He’s by Curlin and Curlin’s usually get better with age. The good horses can get the distance.”
FRACTIONS: :22.20 :45.17 :57.77 1:10.73
The stakes win was the fourth of the meeting for rider Hernandez and his second (Havnameltdown, 2022) in the Best Pal. He now has 48 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the third of the meet for trainer Baffert and his 11th in the Best Pal. He now has a Del Mar record 171 stakes wins.
The winning owners are a group led by SF Racing (Gavin Murphy of Lexington, KY) and Starlight Racing (Jack and Laurie Wolf).