Azul Leon stays perfect in Best Pal via disqualification

Joseph Lacombe Stable's homebred AZUL LEON (Lion Heart) suffered a horrendous

trip in the stretch of Sunday's $150,000

Best Pal

S. (G2) at Del Mar, finished second by a nose to Kelly Leak (Runaway Groom),

but was promoted to first after that rival was disqualified to fourth. The Doug

O'Neill-trained juvenile moved his record to a perfect three-for-three when

awarded the victory in the 6 1/2-furlong test, which was completed in 1:16 3/5,

and gave back $5.60, $3 and $2.40 as the 9-5 favorite.

Azul Leon and Bejarano raced in last during the early part of the race and

began their move entering the turn. However, Kelly Leak, who had been running

near the back, was also accelerating while running in front of Azul Leon.

Rounding the turn, Kelly Leak carried Azul Leon out into the middle of the track

before veering back toward the inside under right-handed whipping from jockey

Victor Espinoza. Unfortunately, Bejarano had already angled Azul Leon to the

inside of Kelly Leak.

Charlie's Moment (Indian Charlie), running just off the flank of Azul Leon on

the outside with Coronet of a Baron (Pure Prize) to his inside, was forced to

take up sharply as Azul Leon was pushed in and the space between those two

disappeared. Azul Leon kept his hooves under him in the tight quarters and just

missed on the line, with Coronet of a Baron running third another three-quarters

of a length back and Charlie's Moment finishing fourth. A stewards' inquiry into

the stretch run was immediately posted, leading to Kelly Leak being disqualified

to fourth.

"It definitely looked like the horse had to alter his course," O'Neill said

after the race. "Rafael wanted to go outside but he felt like that had been

taken away from him, so he bounced inside and it got pretty tight in there. You

could tell the stewards were scratching their heads over this. We love to win,

but I hate to win under these circumstances. It was tough for the horses, too.

There were four gutsy two-year-olds going for the wire."

Coronet of a Baron, sent off at 9-5, was moved up to second and paid $3.40

and $2.80 while ending the $9.70 exacta ($1). Charlie's Moment was awarded third

at 12-1, returning $4.80 and finishing the $69.10 trifecta ($1). Kelly

Leak, the 6-1 fourth choice, completed the 9-5-8-10 superfecta ($1) that was

worth $247.90. Fu Peg He Rat (Fusaichi Pegasus), Turbo Call (Nineeleven),

Miguel's Mascot (Marino Marini) and S. S. Stone (Birdstone) rounded out the

order under the wire after Captain Steel (Hennessy) and Fiery Rebel (Smoke

Glacken) were withdrawn.

Azul Leon debuted at Hollywood on May 8, rallying from midpack to win by a

head going 4 1/2 furlongs. He immediately stepped up to graded competition next

out, taking the Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. (G3) by four lengths, and has

now bankrolled $182,400 to go along with his perfect mark.

A Kentucky-bred by a first-crop sire who captured the Hollywood Futurity (G1)

over the old dirt track, Azul Leon is out of the Canadian Grade 3 winner Quick

Blue (Cure the Blues), who has also produced an unnamed yearling colt by Malibu

Moon.