Mike Harrington-trained Creative Cause generated a lot of backstretch buzz with a 4 ¾-length victory in his
racing debut on July 16 at Hollywood Park that received a 98 Beyer Speed
Figure.
And because of it, the gray son of
Giant’s Causeway he has been established as the 2-1 morning line favorite
Sunday when he faces six rivals in the $150,000, Grade II Best Pal Stakes, a
stepping stone to the Del Mar Futurity.
“I knew the horse could run, I just
didn’t know he’d run that fast that soon,” Harrington said. “The thing was that
whenever I worked him in company, whatever horse it was, he’d outwork them.
“He’s one of those horses that if
he’s alone he doesn’t work at all, he just does what he has to. I had (Rafael)
Bejarano work him by himself one day and Bejarano didn’t like him.”
Bejarano, the meet’s leading rider,
will be up for the second time in the Best Pal.
Creative Cause, a son of Giant’s
Causeway, was purchased for $135,000 at the Keeneland September sale last year.
A private purchase by owner Heinz Steinmann, a client of Harrington’s for 16
years, was negotiated this spring prior to a tentatively scheduled appearance
in a 2-year-old in training sale.
“We’re in no hurry with the horse,”
Harrington said. “I didn’t even want to run him at Hollywood, but he was so
ready I had to run him.
“I’m under no pressure from the
owner to run him. We’re looking to having a good 3-year-old (for 2012).”