The Best Pal Stakes is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...

 held annually at Del Mar Racetrack

Del Mar Racetrack

Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership...

 in Del Mar, California

Del Mar, California

Del Mar is an upscale beach town in San Diego County, California. The population was 4,161 at the 2010 census, down from 4,389 at the 2000 census. The San Diego County Fair is hosted on the Del Mar Fairgrounds every summer. Del Mar is Spanish for "of the sea" or "by the sea", because it is located...

. The race is open to horses, age two, that are willing to race six and one-half furlongs on Polytrack. A Grade II

Graded stakes race

A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...

 event, it carries a purse of $150,000.

Inaugurated in 1967 as the Balboa Stakes, it was raced on turf

Grass

Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...

 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

Best Pal

Best Pal was an American Hall of Fame champion racehorse, who to this day holds the record for purses of any California-bred racehorse, earning his owners, the Golden Eagle Farm, US$5.6 million over his lifetime.A descendant of Princequillo on both his sire's and dam's line, Best Pal won the first...

, a California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

-born racehorse

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

 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:

• 1⅛ 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

Jockey

A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

:

• 5 - Alex Solis
  Alex Solis
  Alex O. Solis is a jockey based in the United States. He currently lives in Glendora, California and rides predominantly in Southern California...
  
   (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2006)

Most wins by a trainer

Horse trainer

In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

:

• 7 - Bob Baffert
  Bob Baffert
  Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his...
  
   (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009)

Most wins by an owner:

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

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2011	Creative Cause	Rafael Bejarano	Mike Harrington	Heinz Steinmann	1:15.62
2010	J P's Gusto	Patrick Valenzuela	David Hofmans David Hofmans David E. Hofmans is an American trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses. Born and raised in Los Angeles, as a boy his father brought him to watch horse racing at area tracks. While a student at Pasadena City College he became friends with Gary Jones...	Gem Inc.	1:16.61
2009	Lookin at Lucky Lookin at Lucky Lookin At Lucky is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 2010 Preakness Stakes. Sired by Smart Strike, a half brother to Canadian Triple Crown Winner Dance Smartly, his dam, Private Feeling, was sired by Belong To Me by the North American Leading Sire of 1993, Danzig.Lookin At...	Garrett Gomez Garrett K. Gomez Garrett Keith Gomez is an American thoroughbred jockey.-Early career:Gomez learned to ride by watching his father, Louie, who was a jockey at many tracks in the Southwest United States...	Bob Baffert Bob Baffert Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his...	M. Pegram, K. Watson, P. Weitman	1:16.06
2008	Azul Leon †	Rafael Bejarano	Douglas F. O'Neill Douglas F. O'Neill Douglas F. "Doug" O'Neill is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer.In 1986 he began working in Thoroughbred horse racing as a stable hand and eventually a training assistant...	Joseph LaCombe Stable Joseph LaCombe Joseph P. LaCombe is a retired American businessman and owner of Joseph LaCombe Stable Inc., a Thoroughbred horse racing stable...	1:16.73
2007	Salute the Sarge	Michael Baze Michael C. Baze Michael Carl Baze was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.He grew up in a family with an extensive history in the sport. His father was a jockey who rode primarily at tracks in the Pacific Northwest and his uncle Gary Baze is a member of the Washington Racing Hall of Fame. Baze was also a...	Eric J. Guillot	Southern Equine Stable	1:19.43
2006	Principle Secret	Alex Solis Alex Solis Alex O. Solis is a jockey based in the United States. He currently lives in Glendora, California and rides predominantly in Southern California...	Christopher Paasch	C. R. Cono LLC	1:16.15
2005	What a Song	Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding in his native Mexico and earned his first win there in 1992 before moving the following year to compete at racetracks in California....	Bob Baffert Bob Baffert Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his...	Bob & Beverly Lewis	1:15.64
2004	Roman Ruler	Corey Nakatani Corey Nakatani Corey S. Nakatani is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He got his big break in 1990 when he rode Itsallgreektome to win big stakes races.Nakatani currently resides at Belmont Park...	Bob Baffert Bob Baffert Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his...	Fog City Stable	1:15.93
2003	Perfect Moon	Pat Valenzuela Pat Valenzuela Patrick Angel Valenzuela is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born into a racing family, his father plus three of his uncles, including Ismael Valenzuela, were jockeys. He rode his first career winner on November 10, 1978, at Sunland Park Racetrack in Sunland Park, New Mexico...	Melvin F. Stute Melvin F. Stute Melvin Frederick "Mel" Stute is an American trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses. On December 11, 2010 at Hollywood Park Racetrack he won the 2000th race of a career that includes a win in the second leg of the U.S...	M. Stute Melvin F. Stute Melvin Frederick "Mel" Stute is an American trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses. On December 11, 2010 at Hollywood Park Racetrack he won the 2000th race of a career that includes a win in the second leg of the U.S...  & The Hat Ranch	1:16.90
2002	Kafwain	Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding in his native Mexico and earned his first win there in 1992 before moving the following year to compete at racetracks in California....	Bob Baffert Bob Baffert Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his...	The Thoroughbred Corp. The Thoroughbred Corp. The Thoroughbred Corporation is a Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation established in 1994 by principal partner Prince Ahmed bin Salman of the Saudi Arabian royal family...	1:17.00
2001	Officer	Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding in his native Mexico and earned his first win there in 1992 before moving the following year to compete at racetracks in California....	Bob Baffert Bob Baffert Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his...	The Thoroughbred Corp. The Thoroughbred Corp. The Thoroughbred Corporation is a Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation established in 1994 by principal partner Prince Ahmed bin Salman of the Saudi Arabian royal family...	1:15.08
2000	Flame Thrower	Corey Nakatani Corey Nakatani Corey S. Nakatani is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He got his big break in 1990 when he rode Itsallgreektome to win big stakes races.Nakatani currently resides at Belmont Park...	Bob Baffert Bob Baffert Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his...	Gary M. Garber	1:16.51
1999	Dixie Union	Alex Solis Alex Solis Alex O. Solis is a jockey based in the United States. He currently lives in Glendora, California and rides predominantly in Southern California...	Richard E. Mandella	Diamond A Racing Corp./H. Sarkowsky Herman Sarkowsky Herman Sarkowsky is a Seattle, Washington, United States businessman, philanthropist, thoroughbred breeder, and former sports executive. He was a co-founder of two Pacific Northwest sports franchises, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Seahawks.-Early life and career:Sarkowsky was born in...	1:16.40
1998	Worldly Manner	Gary L. Stevens	Bob Baffert Bob Baffert Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his...	Golden Eagle Farm	1:16.60
1997	Old Topper	Alex Solis Alex Solis Alex O. Solis is a jockey based in the United States. He currently lives in Glendora, California and rides predominantly in Southern California...	Noble Threewitt Noble Threewitt Noble Threewitt was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who conditioned horses for seventy-five years before retiring on his ninety-sixth birthday...	Barbara Hunter	1:16.40
1996	Swiss Yodeler	Alex Solis Alex Solis Alex O. Solis is a jockey based in the United States. He currently lives in Glendora, California and rides predominantly in Southern California...	Michael C. Harrington	Heinz Steinmann	1:16.00
1995	Cobra King	Russell Baze Russell Baze Russell Avery Baze is a horse racing jockey. He holds the record for the most race wins in North American horse racing history, and is a member of the United States Racing Hall of Fame....	Mike Puype	Betty Biszantz	1:15.80
1994	Timber Country Timber Country Timber Country is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the first horse to ever win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile then go on to win one of the U.S. Triple Crown races for three-year-olds....	Alex Solis Alex Solis Alex O. Solis is a jockey based in the United States. He currently lives in Glendora, California and rides predominantly in Southern California...	D. Wayne Lukas D. Wayne Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S...	Gainsway Farm et al.	1:16.60
1993	Creston	Corey Black Corey Black Corey A. Black is a retired Champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Born in Westminster, California, Black won his first race as a professional apprentice jockey on October 16, 1985, during the Oak Tree Racing Association meet at Santa Anita Park...	Jenine Sahadi	Evergreen Farm	1:16.20
1992	Devil Diamond	Kent Desormeaux Kent Desormeaux Kent Jason Desormeaux is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year, 1989.-Brief biography:...	Gary F. Jones Gary F. Jones Gary F. Jones is a retired trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses whose career began in 1974 and ended with his retirement at the end of July, 1996 having earned $52,672,611 in purses and the winner of 1,465 races including 102 graded stakes.Among the outstanding horses trained by Gary Jones were Hall...	Golden Eagle Farm	1:22.60
1991	Scherando	Francisco Mena	Richard W. Mulhall	Chase Mishkin	1:22.40
1990	Best Pal Best Pal Best Pal was an American Hall of Fame champion racehorse, who to this day holds the record for purses of any California-bred racehorse, earning his owners, the Golden Eagle Farm, US$5.6 million over his lifetime.A descendant of Princequillo on both his sire's and dam's line, Best Pal won the first...	Pat Valenzuela Pat Valenzuela Patrick Angel Valenzuela is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born into a racing family, his father plus three of his uncles, including Ismael Valenzuela, were jockeys. He rode his first career winner on November 10, 1978, at Sunland Park Racetrack in Sunland Park, New Mexico...	Ian Jory	Golden Eagle Farm	1:22.20
1989	A. Sir Dancer	Eddie Delahoussaye Eddie Delahoussaye Edward J. Delahoussaye is a retired American Thoroughbred jockey from New Iberia, Louisiana.He began his career in 1968 and ten years later became the top American jockey with 384 wins...	Charles Marikian	G. Arakelian Farms	1:23.00
1988	Rob an Plunder	Chris McCarron Chris McCarron Christopher John "Chris" McCarron is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He is currently working as a racing analyst for TVG Network....	Craig A. Lewis	Diamond Jim, et al	1:23.00
1987	Purdue King	Chris McCarron Chris McCarron Christopher John "Chris" McCarron is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He is currently working as a racing analyst for TVG Network....	Irvin Guiney	John Valpredo	1:23.20
1986	Temperate Sil	Bill Shoemaker	Charlie Whittingham	Frankfurt Stable	1:23.00
1985	Swear	Eddie Delahoussaye Eddie Delahoussaye Edward J. Delahoussaye is a retired American Thoroughbred jockey from New Iberia, Louisiana.He began his career in 1968 and ten years later became the top American jockey with 384 wins...	Willard L. Proctor Willard L. Proctor Williard L. Proctor was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. A longtime trainer in California, he began his career as a jockey at bush tracks in Texas and Louisiana. After his riding days were over he turned to training, moving to California in 1955...	Claiborne Farm Claiborne Farm Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...	1:36.60
1984	Saratoga Six	Angel Cordero, Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas D. Wayne Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S...	French, Klein, Lyon, et al	1:36.80
1983	Party Leader	Ray Sibille Ray Sibille Raymond Frederick Sibille is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. In a career that spanned thirty-five years, Sibille rode his first winner on June 29, 1969 at Evangeline Downs in Carencro, Louisiana...	Gary F. Jones Gary F. Jones Gary F. Jones is a retired trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses whose career began in 1974 and ended with his retirement at the end of July, 1996 having earned $52,672,611 in purses and the winner of 1,465 races including 102 graded stakes.Among the outstanding horses trained by Gary Jones were Hall...	Elmendorf Farm Elmendorf Farm Elmendorf Farm is a Kentucky Thoroughbred horse farm in Fayette County, Kentucky, and has been involved with horse racing since the early 19th century...	1:37.20
1982	Roving Boy Roving Boy Roving Boy was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by Robert E. Hibbert, Roving Boy was a descendant of Man o' War on his sire's side...	Eddie Delahoussaye Eddie Delahoussaye Edward J. Delahoussaye is a retired American Thoroughbred jockey from New Iberia, Louisiana.He began his career in 1968 and ten years later became the top American jockey with 384 wins...	Joseph Manzi	Robert E. Hibbert	1:35.40
1981	The Captain	Laffit Pincay, Jr. Laffit Pincay, Jr. Laffit Alejandro Pincay, Jr. is a flat racing's all-time winningest jockey. He competed primarily in the United States.-Career:...	Laz Barrera Laz Barrera Lazaro Sosa Barrera was a Cuban-born American Hall of Fame thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Havana, "Laz" Barrera was one of nine brothers who went on to become involved in thoroughbred horse racing in the United States...	Harbor View Farm	1:36.80
1980	Bold and Gold	Dean Hall	W. A. Reavis	Ted Rexius	1:37.40
1979	Doonesbury	Sandy Hawley Sandy Hawley Desmond Sanford "Sandy" Hawley, CM is a Hall of Fame jockey.Sandy Hawley started out as a plumber then later decided to be a jockey. He started his career as a jockey when he was a 17-year-old boy, hotwalking horses at a Toronto racetrack...	Barney Willis	Roberts, Roffe & Willis	1:35.40
1978	Flying Paster Flying Paster Flying Paster was an American Thoroughbred racehorse bred in California by his owner, Bernard J. Ridder of the Knight Ridder newspaper chain...	Donald Pierce Donald R. Pierce Donald R. Pierce is a retired U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.Based in California, Pierce earned his first win in 1954 and went on to become a leading jockey in the 1960s and 1970s...	Gordon C. Campbell	Bernard J. Ridder Bernard J. Ridder Bernard Joseph "Ben" Ridder was an American newspaper publisher who served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ridder Publications, Inc. and an executive in the California Thoroughbred horse racing industry as well as a racehorse owner and breeder. Ridder was born in New York City, one of...	1:35.60
1977	Spanish Way	Laffit Pincay, Jr. Laffit Pincay, Jr. Laffit Alejandro Pincay, Jr. is a flat racing's all-time winningest jockey. He competed primarily in the United States.-Career:...	Laz Barrera Laz Barrera Lazaro Sosa Barrera was a Cuban-born American Hall of Fame thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Havana, "Laz" Barrera was one of nine brothers who went on to become involved in thoroughbred horse racing in the United States...	Harbor View Farm	1:36.00
1976	Visible	Laffit Pincay, Jr. Laffit Pincay, Jr. Laffit Alejandro Pincay, Jr. is a flat racing's all-time winningest jockey. He competed primarily in the United States.-Career:...	Vincent Clyne	Elmendorf Farm Elmendorf Farm Elmendorf Farm is a Kentucky Thoroughbred horse farm in Fayette County, Kentucky, and has been involved with horse racing since the early 19th century...	1:35.80
1975	Crazy Channon	Donald Pierce Donald R. Pierce Donald R. Pierce is a retired U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.Based in California, Pierce earned his first win in 1954 and went on to become a leading jockey in the 1960s and 1970s...	Harold C. McBride	Colvin, Engelson & Nadel	1:37.20
1974	Diabolo	Bill Shoemaker	Sidney Martin	Frank M. McMahon Frank M. McMahon Frank Murray Patrick McMahon was a Canadian businessman best known as the founder and first chairman of Westcoast Transmission Co. Ltd...	1:35.60
1973	Battery E.	Wayne Harris Wayne Harris (jockey) Wayne Harris is a retired Canadian jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing who competed in Canada and the United States and who is best known for winning Canada's most prestigious race, the 1968 Queen's Plate....	Dennis W. Sparks	Diamond M Ranch	1:30.60
1972	Brave Dance	Fernando Toro	Wayne B. Stucki	J. Kel Houssels	1:29.80
1967	Acknowledge	William Harmatz William Harmatz William Harmatz was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who won the 1959 Preakness Stakes aboard Royal Orbit...	Gordon C. Campbell	Vicgray Farm	1:49.40
1967	Het's Cadet	Miguel Yanez	L. J. Brooks	Wallace F. Zager	1:49.60

* † In 2008, Kelly Leak finished first, but was disqualified and set back to fourth.