2-year-old Creative Cause wins Best Pal at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - Creative Cause made it 2 for 2 in his brief career and asserted himself as an early major player on the nation's 2-year-old scene with a win in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes on Sunday at Del Mar.

The odds-on favorite in a field of six juveniles, Creative Cause sat fifth in the early going, moved up to second on the turn and kicked past pacesetter I'll Have Another in the stretch, covering 6 1/2 furlongs under Rafael Bejarano in 1:15.62.

``Perfect trip. I couldn't have asked for better,'' Bejarano said.

Creative Cause earned $90,000 for the win and paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10. I'll Have Another paid $5 and $4.20. Mighty Monsoon paid $4.80 to show.

A gray Kentucky-bred son of Giant's Causeway bought for $135,000 last summer by Heinz Steinmann, Creative Cause is likely to run next in the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 7, a Grade 1 that brings with it an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November at Churchill Downs.

``If all goes well we'll run him in the Futurity,'' trainer Mike Harrington said. ``It's a 'Win and You're In' race, so why wouldn't you run him in it?''