Alpine Luck Heads Field of Seven in Best Pal

Heinz Steinmann’s Alpine Luck, game winner of the Hollywood Juvenile Championship in his last appearance, heads a field of  seven two-year-olds in the 43rd running of the Grade II $150,000 Best Pal Stakes Sunday at Del Mar.

The 6 1/2-furlong sprint is the major steppingstone to the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on closing day, Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens again as the call on Alpine Luck, a son of Lucky J.H. who scored his second straight victory when he  won the Hollywood Juvenile Championship by a half-length over Ontology, one of his rivals Sunday. Veteran Mike Harrington conditions Alpine Luck.

Others in the line-up are Easy Solution, Patrick Valenzuela; Skydreamin, Mike Smith; Alberts Hope, Alonso Quinonez ; Guns Loaded, Joe Talamo, and Celtic Moon, Edwin Maldonado.

With the exception of Ontology, who will be piloted by Rafael Bejarano, all of the Best Pal entrants have at least a maiden victory to their credit. Easy Solution broke his maiden at Woodbine in Canada; Skydreamin was a two-time winner in the Bay Area; Alberts Hope and Celtic Moon won at Betfair Hollywood Park and Guns Loaded won at Del Mar.