BENSALEM, Penn.— Gary and Mary West’s Best Actor revealed he was the best when he drew away to victory in the Grade 3, $300,000 Smarty Jones on August 23rd at Parx.
While huge longshot Practical Coach set the pace, Best Actor and jockey Florent Geroux stalked from second, drifting a bit wide into the first turn. The son of the late Flatter raced under a tight hold as the three-year-old colts raced up the backstretch but was let loose entering the turn, making quick work of passing the leader.
Holding off a gallant rally from Kissalot, Best Actor pulled away and won by 5 ¾ lengths.
The final time for the mile and a sixteenth dirt affair was 1:44.14.
Kissalot finished 2nd. Creative Minister, who was favored, got up for 3rd. The payoffs for the top three finishers were 7.00, 9.20, and 2.60, respectively.
Best Actor started his career a perfect two-for-two, breaking his maiden on debut at Oaklawn and besting allowance optional claiming rivals at Churchill Downs in his next start. The Brad Cox trainee then dipped his hooves into graded stakes waters, finishing second in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby in July.
Best Actor was a $330,000 purchase at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
By Amber Joyce, Contributing Editor
Photo: Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO
