Pappacap Shines for Gun Runner in Best Pal
Image:
Description:
Photo: Benoit Photo
Pappacap wins the Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar
One day after trainer Mark Casse was inducted into the U.S. Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Pappacap , a promising 2-year-old colt in Casse's barn, took a huge step forward with a decisive victory in the $200,500 Best Pal Stakes (G2) at Del Mar.
In only his second start, and first since breaking his maiden May 14 at Gulfstream Park, Pappacap turned in an exceptionally professional performance while becoming the first black-type winner for his sire Gun Runner . Sent away as the 2-1 second choice under jockey Joe Bravo in the field of six, Pappacap stalked in third behind Thirsty Always and Bet On Mookie before making his move.
Thirsty Always came away from the gate the fastest, but Bet On Mookie at the rail quickly headed him. Those two set a brisk pace, with Bet On Mookie completing the first quarter-mile in :22.11.
Around the turn, as Bravo got ready to ask Pappacap to catch the leaders, the jockey took a quick look behind to see if anyone was coming. He then punched the button on Pappacap, who immediately responded, passing Bet On Mookie and Thirsty Always while outside of those two rivals.
Pappacap began pulling away, and though Finneus was closing ground after running second-to-last early, Pappacap's victory was never in doubt. Pappacap crossed the wire 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Finneus, stopping the timer for six furlongs in 1:11.66 on the fast track. Bet On Mookie finished third.
"I was glad to see how well he settled in behind those two up front," Bravo said. "His (maiden) race in Florida, he just was pure speed. You don't know if that's the way they like to go. But he showed another dimension today. Mark Casse sends them out ready."
Casse couldn't be at the Best Pal, and assistant Allen Hardy-Zukowski is handling the trainer's Del Mar string. However, George and Karen Russell, who bred and own Pappacap, flew out from Florida to see the race.
George Russell explained that while they usually sell the horses they breed in the name of their Rustlewood Farm, with the sale situation in flux due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they ultimately decided to keep Florida-bred Pappacap. It was a good omen, especially given Karen's penchant for the colt's sire.
"My wife was a big fan of Gun Runner," Russell said two days before the race. "After he retired, she said, 'We're breeding to Gun Runner,' so that's what we did. We told Francis (Vanlangendonck) with Summerfield—we rely on them—and we went through our mares."
Vanlangendonck suggested that they breed the Scat Daddy mare Pappascat to the Three Chimneys stallion, whose first foals are 2-year-olds this year. Gun Runner stood the 2021 season for an advertised $50,000 fee.
George Russell said Pappacap was amenable right from the start.
"It's hard to tell when they're babies and growing," the owner said. "But any time you tried to do something different with the guy, he just went along with the program and didn't fight you. He's progressed like that in training too."
With the win, the colt improved his earnings to $158,000. His dam has a yearling Bolt d'Oro colt and dropped an Omaha Beach colt May 16. She was bred to War of Will for 2022.
Pappacap was the Russells' first starter at Del Mar, though George said they have raced horses at Santa Anita Park in the past.