Favored Skyway holds off late charger, wins $120,000 at Del Mar
Skyway held off fast-closing Henry's Holiday by a length Sunday in the $300,000 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar.
Ridden by Stewart Elliott, Skyway ran six furlongs on Polytrack in 1:16.67 and paid $6.20, $3.60 and $2.80 as the 2-1 favorite.
Henry's Holiday ridden by Tyler Baze returned $4.40 and $3.20, while Bad Read Sanchez was another length back in third and paid $3 to show. Baze, who became a father for the first time Saturday, finished second in three races, leaving him one win short of 2,000 in his career.
"He broke well, we were in a good spot and he was comfortable," Elliott said. "When I asked him, he responded well. He was a little green there. He was wanting to lean in changing his leads. Part of maturing. He'll learn and go on from here."
Elliott earned his first stakes win at the seaside track, while trainer Mark Casse won for the first time here. Both are in their first summers at Del Mar.
The victory, worth $120,000, increased Skyway's career earnings to $157,390, with two wins in three starts. Owned by John Oxley, Skyway shipped in from the East Coast for the race.
