Most folks at Del Mar on Sunday thought trainer Bob Baffert had a real live one for the Best Pal Stakes (G3) in the expensive colt Muth. Well, Muth ran a good race, as predicted, but it wasn't good enough as another Baffert runner, Prince of Monaco, stormed through the lane to take the $200,000 race by a handy 4 1/4 lengths over his highly touted stablemate.
Flavien Prat, a seven-time seaside riding champion who has been plying his trade of late on the East Coast, flew in for the assignment on the winning son of 2004 champion sprinter Speightstown and handled his charge perfectly, letting a pair of speedsters go fast early, then taking over at the head of the lane and finishing strongly.
Prince of Monaco's final time – 1:09.19 – was the fastest six furlongs of the meet. It bested the previous mark of 1:09.24, set by win machine The Chosen Vron in capturing the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) on July 29.
Prince of Monaco, who cost “only” $950,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale (stablemate Muth cost $2-million earlier this year at the OBS March Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale) is owned by an extended partnership consisting of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan.
Muth, who races in the silks of Zedan Racing Stables, was second, 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Raging Torrent.
Prince of Monaco, the 9-5 second choice in the wagering (Muth went favored at 1-2), returned $5.60 to win.
The winner's share of the purse was $120,000 and increased Prince of Monaco's bankroll to $147,000. He won his only other start, a straight maiden race at Los Alamitos on July 9 where he was an eight-length winner.
The score in the Best Pal was Baffert's record 10th in the race. It was Prat's second.
Best Pal Quotes
JOCKEY FLAVIEN PRAT (Prince of Monaco, winner) – “Mr. Baffert called me and asked me to come out and ride a horse for him. And so here I am. He was very comfortable out there; felt good all the way. I saw the pace was hot and I just waited my turn. He's a nice colt. And yes, I think he can run farther.”
TRAINER BOB BAFFERT (Prince of Monaco, winner) – “He (Prat) rode that filly (in Race 3) really fast and I said 'That's OK, just don't do that on this one.' We knew the other horse was really quick and I was hoping Muth would lay off the pace but he just engaged early. Prat saw what was going on and he took back and I like the way the horse responded and he had a good post for it. You put good riders on good horses, but it was really key that he rode that filly for me in the third race.” (That filly was favored Elegant, who showed speed, but fell back and finished fifth.)
FRACTIONS: :21.76 :44.76 :56.90 1:09.19
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