Best Pal Stakes

History

The event was inaugurated on 30 October 1967 as the Balboa Stakes with split divisions on the final day of the Del Mar 62 day racing season which went into the deep autumn. The event was for three-year-olds and older, and held on the turf over a distance of nine furlongs. The name reflected several area locations — Balboa Park near San Diego, Balboa Peninsula up the coast in Newport Beach, and Balboa Avenue in Del Mar which is located adjacent to the Del Mar Fairgrounds — all named in honor of the Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa.

The event was not run again until 1972 when conditions changed so that two-year-olds would run over a distance of furlongs. In 1974, the event was moved to the dirt track and run over a one-mile distance.

In 1983 the event was classified as Grade III and was upgraded to Grade II in 2003.

In 1995 the event was renamed to honor Best Pal, a three time California Horse of the Year who won the Balboa Stakes in 1990 and whose career earnings totaled more than $5.6 million for his owner-breeder, Golden Eagle Farm.

The event has had several distance changes with last being in 2018 when the journey was set at six furlongs.

The event's position in the racing calendar at Del Mar has led to the race being a preparatory race for the Del Mar Futurity, which is scheduled usually several weeks later.

Other notable winners of this event include the 1994 winner Timber Country who went on that year to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was crowned US Champion Two-Year-Old Horse who the following year became the first horse to ever win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and American Triple Crown Classic Race when he won the 1995 Preakness Stakes. The 2009 winner, Lookin at Lucky, was crowned US Champion Two-Year-Old Horse and the following year also won the 2010 Preakness Stakes. The 2015 winner Nyquist followed up by winning the Del Mar Futurity and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, along with being crowned the US Champion Two-Year-Old Horse and the following year winning the 2016 Kentucky Derby.

In 2022 the event's classification was downgraded from Grade II to Grade III.

Records

Speed record:

• 6 furlongs: 1:10.22 – Havnameltdown (2012)
• furlongs: 1:15.08 – Officer (2001)
• 7 furlongs: 1:22.20 – Best Pal (1990)
• 1 mile: 1:35.40 – Doonesbury (1979) and Roving Boy (1982)

Margins:

• lengths – Instagrand (2018)

Most wins by a jockey:

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

Most wins by a trainer:

• 12 - Bob Baffert (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - Golden Eagle Farm (1990, 1992, 1998)
• 3 - Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman (2009, 2022, 2025)

Best Pal Stakes – Del Mar Futurity double:

• Diabolo (1974), Visible (1976), Flying Paster (1978), Bold and Gold (1980), Saratoga Six (1984), Best Pal (1990), Worldly Manner (1998), Flame Thrower (2000), Officer (2001), Lookin At Lucky (2009), J P's Gusto (2010), Nyquist (2015), Klimt (2016), Prince of Monaco (2023)

Winners

Legend: Notes: ‡ The inaugural running of the event in 1967 was for three year olds and older and was split into two divisions. The First Division winner Acknowledge was a six year old. The Second Division winner Het's Cadet was a four year old. † In the 2008 Kelly Leak was first past the post but caused interference in the straight by drifting in and was disqualified and placed fourth. Azul Leon was declared the winner. § Ran as part of an entry

References

References

1. (2020). "BEST PAL STAKES - DEL MAR, CA". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online.
2. (2020). "Best Pal Stakes (Gr. 2)". Equibase.
3. (2020). "BEST PAL (USA) b. G, 1988 - 47 Starts, 18 Wins, 11 Places, 4 Shows Career Earnings: $5,668,245". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online.
4. Schweigardt, Andrew. (2022). "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for February 2022-January 2023". [[Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association]].
5. (9 August 2025). "2025 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)".
6. (11 August 2024). "2023 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 3)".
7. (13 August 2023). "2023 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)".
8. (14 August 2022). "2022 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)".
9. "2021 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)".
10. (8 August 2020). "2020 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase.
11. (10 August 2019). "2019 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
12. (11 August 2018). "2018 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 3)". Equibase.
13. (12 August 2017). "2017 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase.
14. (13 August 2016). "2016 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
15. (8 August 2015). "2015 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase.
16. (3 August 2014). "2014 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
17. (4 August 2013). "2013 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
18. (5 August 2012). "2012 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
19. (7 August 2011). "2011 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
20. (8 August 2010). "2010 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
21. (9 August 2009). "2009 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase.
22. (10 August 2008). "2008 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
23. (12 August 2007). "2007 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
24. (13 August 2006). "2006 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
25. (14 August 2005). "2005 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase.
26. (15 August 2004). "2004 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 2)". Equibase.
27. (17 August 2003). "2003 Best Pal Stakes Grade 2 - (race 2)". Equibase.
28. (21 August 2002). "2002 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase.
29. (15 August 2001). "2001 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase.
30. (23 August 2000). "2000 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase.
31. (18 August 1999). "1999 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase.
32. (14 August 1998). "1998 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase.
33. (20 August 1997). "1997 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase.
34. (21 August 1996). "1996 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase.
35. (23 August 1995). "1995 Balboa Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase.
36. (24 August 1994). "1994 Balboa Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase.
37. (20 August 1993). "1993 Balboa Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase.
38. (28 August 1992). "1992 Balboa Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase.
39. (21 August 1991). "1991 Balboa Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase.
40. Sauer, Kathleen. (23 August 1990). "Best Pal is looking like Futurity favorite (1990 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 22 August 1990'')". [[North County Times.
41. (24 August 1989). "A. Sir Dancer is Balboa Winner (1989 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 23 August 1989'')". [[Los Angeles Times]].
42. (1 September 1988). "Stevens spills; McCarron Rides Winner (1988 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 31 August 1988'')". Los Angeles Times.
43. Schuelein, Steve. (3 September 1987). "Purdue King noses out Accomplish Ridge (1987 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 2 September 1987'')". [[Daily Times-Advocate.
44. (28 August 1986). "Temperate Sil Wins (1986 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 27 August 1986'')". [[The San Bernardino County Sun]].
45. Ello, Chris. (29 August 1985). "Swear Shows Great Promise in Balboa Win (1985 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 28 August 1985'')". Los Angeles Times.
46. McManus, Sam. (30 August 1984). "Lukas' Saratoga Six Wins by Half Length at Del Mar (1984 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 29 August 1984'')". Los Angeles Times.
47. (1 September 1983). "Thoroughbred Racing Roundup (1983 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 31 August 1983'')". [[The Courier-Journal]].
48. (26 August 1982). "Del Mar Charts (1982 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 25 August 1982'')". Los Angeles Times.
49. (27 August 1981). "The Captain wins DM feature (1981 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 26 August 1981'')". [[Daily Times-Advocate.
50. (28 August 1980). "Bold and Gold Wins Balboa at $61.60 (1980 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 27 August 1980'')". Los Angeles Times.
51. (30 August 1979). "Doonesbury, 4-5, Wins in Final Yards (1979 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 29 August 1979'')". Los Angeles Times.
52. (31 August 1978). "Flying Paster Wins and Sets a New Record (1978 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 30 August 1978'')". Los Angeles Times.
53. (1 September 1977). "Spanish Way finds a way at Del Mar (1977 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 31 August 1977'')". [[Daily Times-Advocate.
54. (2 September 1976). "Visible Speedy Del Mar Winner (1976 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 1 September 1976'')". [[Long Beach Independent]].
55. (28 August 1975). "Wild Win for Crazy Channon (1975 Balboa Stakes - race 8: ''held 27 August 1975'')". Long Beach Independent.
56. (29 August 1974). "Church, Shoe Act like kids (1974 Balboa Stakes - race 7: ''held 28 August 1974'')". Long Beach Independent.
57. (1 September 1973). "Battery triumphs in Balboa (1973 Balboa Stakes - race 7: ''held 31 August 1973'')". [[Press-Telegram.
58. (2 September 1972). "Del Mar set for holiday (1972 Balboa Stakes - race 7: ''held 1 September 1972'')". Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram.
59. (31 October 1967). "Acknowledge Sets Record; Del Mar Ends Its Fall Meeting (1967 Balboa Stakes Division 1 - race 8: ''held 30 October 1967'')". Pasadena Independent.
60. Hebert, Bob. (31 October 1967). "Het's Cadet, Acknowledge Split Windup (1967 Balboa Stakes Division 2 - race 9: ''held 30 October 1967'')". Los Angeles Times.