Ian Jory Is Replaced as Trainer of Best Pal

The owners of Best Pal, considered a top 3-year-old even though he has been unable to win a race this year, have taken the horse from trainer Ian Jory and sent him to Gary Jones’ barn at Hollywood Park.

“This is in the best interests of the horse, and that’s all I will have to say,” said John Mabee, who bred and owns Best Pal with his wife, Betty.

Mabee may have been frustrated that Best Pal, after winning the Hollywood Futurity and four other stakes and earning $1.2 million as a 2-year-old, has not won in five starts this year. Best Pal finished second last Sunday in the Silver Screen Handicap, losing to Compelling Sound by a neck. Best Pal was also second in the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby this year. He ran fifth, 11 lengths behind Hansel, in the Preakness--the worst race of his career.

Mabee said that Jory would continue to train four or five other horses for him. Mabee has more than 150 horses in training in the United States and Europe, and employs about 16 trainers, including as many as 11 in California.

Jory, 33, could not be reached for comment.

Jones, 47, has trained some of the Mabees’ most successful horses, including Beautiful Glass and Fantastic Look. Jones saddled the Mabees’ Heart of Joy to win the Convenience Stakes at Hollywood Park last Friday night.

Best Pal’s next race will probably be the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park July 7.