Best Pal Stakes

The Best Pal Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The race is open to horses, age two, that are willing to race six and one-half furlongs on dirt. A Grade II event, it currently carries a purse of $200,000.

Inaugurated in 1967 as the Balboa Stakes, it was raced on turf and open to horses age three and up. For 1967 only, the race was run in two divisions. It was not run again until 1972 when it was changed to an event for two-year-olds. For 1995 the race was renamed to honor Best Pal, a California-born racehorse who won the Balboa Stakes in 1990 and whose career earnings totaled more than $5.6 million for his owner-breeder, Golden Eagle Farm.

Since inception the race has been contested at various distances and surfaces:

•  1 ¹⁄₈ miles : 1967 (on turf)
• 7.5 furlongs : 1972-1973 (on turf)
• 1 mile : 1974-1985 (on dirt)
• 7 furlongs : 1986-1992 (on dirt)
• 6.5 furlongs : 1993-2006 (on dirt)
• 6.5 furlongs : 2007–present (on Polytrack)

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 6.5 furlongs)

• 1:15.08 - Officer (2001)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 - Alex Solis (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2006)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 8 - Bob Baffert (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2016)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - Golden Eagle Farm (1990, 1992, 1998)

Winners

References

• The 2009 Best Pal Stakes at the NTRA