With only his first win to prepare for a ranked holding company, intern Bob Baffert Havnademeltdown August 14 at Del MarGrab $200,000 Best Pal Stakes (G3) in easy style as favorite 1-2.
Overcoming nine opponents very early, the 2-year-old son of Not collected followed by fractions of: 21.74, :44.87, and: 57.35 by Man Child and The firm on a fast track.
Going into the final leg, Man Child put pressure on the leader, but Havnameltdown under the guidance of Juan Hernandez was undaunted, speeding up to win by two and a half innings in 1: 10.22, a record. Scoring for six-person long-haired race. Baffert won Best Pal for the ninth time.
The company finished in second place, Man Child in third place, and Pop d’Oro from eighth to fourth through the last turn.
“I was outside and my plan was to stay second or third, but he was really aggressive out of the gate,” said Hernandez, who won his seventh bet in the meeting. “He wanted to go first so I just let him run to do his thing. In the fourth column he was lazy so I woke him up a bit and he picked it up very carefully and tuned it. . . “
Havnameltdown paid $3 and improved to 2 for 2. His earnings increased to $168,000.
The foal’s first race took place just over two weeks ago, a special first-class weightlifting on July 24 in Del Mar. His first performance was similar as he led from start to finish and finished in front of the field more than two yards.
“He’s built for speed if you look at him,” Baffert said. “It’s very agile in appearance; its males are very fast. That would be its distance type. It’s sturdy and it’s a good herd. It looks great in the paddock and is well-trained. .. Congratulations on getting the W.”
Havnameltdown is an aspirational $16,000 for the Blas Perez Barn from Beth Bayer’s shipment through the Ocala Breeders’ October 2021 Sale. Back at auction earlier this year, the foal sold for a good price. $200,000 to Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, who purchased horses with the name “Three Amigos”, from Blas Perez’s shipment for the Ocala Breeders- Olds 2-Year Spring Sales Program in Training .
Bred in Florida by Katherine Devall from Put It Back Ashley’s Babe, Havnameltdown was the only winner of her three ponies entering the race. She has a desire Tapiture ponies and bred into Maximus Mischief for the 2023 season.
Video: Best Pal S. (G3)
