After leaving the competition on its heels in his first two starts, Run Away likely will head postward as the favorite in Saturday’s $200,000 Best Pal (G2) at Del Mar. The Simon Callaghan-trained colt heads a field of eight juveniles in the 6 ½-furlong test and Flavien Prat rides.
A $325,000 2-year-old in training purchase for Kaleem Shah, Run Away is by Run Away and Hide. The Kentucky-bred made his debut at Santa Anita in late May, taking a maiden special weight by a widening 2 ¼-length margin, and came back to capture the Santa Anita Juvenile on July 3, dueling on the front end before drawing away by 1 ½ lengths. He’s registered excellent BRIS Speed Ratings of 92 and 94 for the comfortable wins and will show speed from his rail post Saturday.
Bob Baffert, who will look to pad his record with a ninth Best Pal victory, has ammunition in 11-length maiden scorer Serengeti. The speedy Algorithms colt was favored at 2-5 last time and keeps Mike Smith in the irons.
Arawak invades for Wesley Ward. Based at Keeneland, the Coolmore-owned colt broke his maiden first-time out by a seven-length margin at Belmont Park in late May. The son of Uncle Mo didn’t handle turf when shipping to Royal Ascot for the Coventry (G2) three weeks later, but Arawak quickly returned to the worktab and shows a fast series of drills for his initial West Coast appearance. Julio Garcia will be in to ride.
Master Ruler will make his first start for John Sadler and adds the services of leading jockey Evin Roman. But whether the Florida-bred son of Overdriven fits in this spot remains to be seen. The front-running colt has easily captured both starts in Puerto Rico and has been training in Southern California since early July for his U.S. bow.
Dia de Pago has been transferred to Vladimir Cerin following a rallying maiden tally at Gulfstream Park on June 18. Corey Nakatani takes over the reins on the Macho Uno colt. Armour Plate reverts back to a one-turn distance and dirt after recording his first victory in a one-mile turf affair at Santa Anita on July 1. Rafael Bejarano will be up on the son of Into Mischief for Eddie Truman.
Fleetwood is still winless, finishing a respectable second when unveiled in a July 22 maiden special weight at Del Mar, and Kent Desormeaux rides for brother Keith. An Ocala Ten, an $80,000 maiden claiming victor for Peter Miller, completes the line-up.
