Best Pal

After a years-long long battle with cancer, Southern California-based trainer Ben Cecil has passed at the age of 56. He leaves behind his wife Kirsty, and two children, Francesca and Hugo. A near 30-year training career yielded 325 victories and nearly $25 million in prize money. He conditioned several Golden State heavy weights including multiple Grade I winners Golden Apples and Squeak, along with top-flight winners Donna Viola and Passinetti. As nephew to legendary British trainer Henry, Cecil's lineage suggested no other career path than the one taken. His father...

He faced just three rivals but, with the way he ran, Getaway Car (Curlin) looked as though a full field wouldn't be a problem in taking the GIII Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar Sunday afternoon. Honored as a 'TDN Rising Star' for his 3 1/4-length debut performance over five furlongs July 20, the 1-5 favorite had an extra furlong to work with in the jump up to graded stakes company for trainer Bob Baffert. Keen from the outside gate, Getaway Car had plenty of speed to clear down to...

He stood by the elevator, at the base of the grandstand at Hollywood Park, and waited. Passing friends asked him what the hell he was doing, hanging around for hours in a suit, instead of the usual jeans and polo shirt. Next day, Sunday, he was back in position; and again the following weekend, and every weekend afterwards, until most people would have long abandoned the siege. Until, at last, the elevator opened and there he was: John C. Mabee. "Mr. Mabee, my name is Randy Lowe," he said. "You...

Kaleem Shah went to $1.8 million to acquire a pair of powerful-looking :9 4/5 breezers from the OBS March 2-Year-Old Sale earlier this spring. Both are expected to be in action this summer at Del Mar. Arman (Bolt d'Oro), a $600,000 OBS March graduate and the first of the highly regarded duo to make the races, debuted with a visually impressive 'TDN Rising Star' performance at Churchill Downs June 23. Named after Shah's son, the bay is being aimed at the GIII Best Pal S. Aug. 14. Shah, ahem, clearly...

Trainer Gary Jones, who was inducted into the United States Racing Hall of Fame in 2014, passed away Sunday at his home in Del Mar, California. His son, trainer Marty Jones, said his father had been in hospice care and died of natural causes. He was 76. "He was an amazing person, first and foremost," his son said. "For me, that's the most important thing. On top of that, he was a great horse trainer." Gary Jones was the son of longtime California-based trainer Farrell Jones and took over his...

Runaway Belmont debut winner Roderick (Into Mischief), scratched out of Friday's deep GII Saratoga Special S., has been tabbed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in Saturday's GII Best Pal S. at Del Mar. Roderick crushed a trio of rivals on debut for trainer Wesley Ward on Long Island June 21, including runner-up Zippy Baby (Cairo Prince), who returned to graduate next out at Saratoga. Purchased by Breeze Easy for $550,000 as a KEESEP yearling, Roderick is a full-brother to GIII Southwest S. winner One Liner and hails from the same...

Four of the seven runners slated to contest Saturday's GII Best Pal S. graduated at first asking, including morning-line choice Schrodinger (Justin Phllip), trained by Simon Callaghan and owned by Kaleem Shah. Heavy favorite in his Los Alamitos debut June 30, he came from just off the pace to score by 1 1/4 lengths under Flavian Prat. The French-born rider gets back aboard this time. Also likely to garner plenty of support at the windows, Fore Left (Twirling Candy) just got up for a narrow score subsequent GIII Bashford Manor...