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  • There will be a Super High 5 carryover of $22,294 when racing resumes Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park.Posted 1 day ago
  • There will be a Pick Six carryover of $113,928 when racing resumes Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park.Posted 1 day ago
  • General Election wins his turf debut in the G3 Arlington Classic. Posted 1 day ago
  • Hogy pulls the upset in the G3 Hanshin Cup! Posted 1 day ago
  • Dark Cove made it 2 in a row with a gutsy win in the G3 Louisville Handicap. Posted 1 day ago
  • Imposing Grace outduels Lotta Lovin in the G3 Arlington Matron. Posted 1 day ago
  • Obviously leads them on a merry chase in the G2 American Handicap. Posted 1 day ago
  • Tannery roared through on the inside to take the G2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes. Posted 1 day ago
  • From DRF (The Inside Post): Always in a Tiz will run in Belmont Stakes 2013.Posted 2 days ago
  • Mucho Macho Man breezed 5f in 1:01.40 (4/11) at Fair Hill on 5-24. Posted 2 days ago
Home / Stakes / Best Pal Stakes

Best Pal Stakes

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1967 - 1995:   Balboa Stakes
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What the Nation is saying about the Best Pal Stakes...

In your opinion which beginning graded 2 year old race begins to determine the derby prospects?
  • Show All 9 Comments
  • Southern.Humor · I want not implying if it weregoodor bad, mainly just asking when you think the 2 year olds start gaining fans , and we start seeing potetial. Obviously the ones that dobetter later in the year typically do better in the derby. · 2 hours ago ·
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  • Southern.Humor · Good or bad. My SPace key has decided not to work today. · 2 hours ago ·
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Besides entering the history books as the Best Pal winner, Know More will also be noted as the only first time starter to win his initial race in a graded stakes at Del Mar. Read More
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  • cherivaughan · I love him already! · 288 days ago ·
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  • lilsis90 · Anxious to see more from him hope he doesn't get the 2 year old jinx and be a 3 year old flop · 6 days ago ·
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What was your favorite race of the year?Read More
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  • Paladin · Don't forget about the dead heat in the Travers · 157 days ago ·
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  • jay s. · Bodemeister in the Arkansas Derby and Shackleford's Met Mile, Churchill Downs, and Clark. · 157 days ago ·
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The latest future odds from Wynn Las Vegas offer some newcomers to the Road to the 2013 Kentucky Derby.Read More
  • cocoa2 · I would be more interested in reading the article if the future kentucky derby odds could be easily read... · 229 days ago ·
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  • cocoa2 · http://blogs.courier-journal.com/racing/2012/10/02/2013-kentucky-derby-future-odds-from-wynn-las-vegas/ · 229 days ago ·
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So far who's in and what key Graded Stakes Races are left? Let's find out ...Read More
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  • illhaveanothertriplecrown · I think he is that good, I am sentimental and a fan of his connections but at this point he looks great. · 251 days ago ·
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  • seattleslewgal345 · Floridaf, I too think he is that good. To me, he comes off as one of those who will improve and get better. Forget about Know more's connections, and just focus on the colt and what he has shown us so far. And no, I am not going to jump on the Shanghai Bobby bandwagon. Forget about that, it's not happening. he may be undefeated, but give him factors. Give him problems. Make him go the distance, and make him run into troubles, and then lets see how he comes out of it. · 251 days ago ·
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When it comes to the Breeders Cup you either come in loaded and ready rumble, or you have your one big horse in your one big race. This year there are a couple connections ready to roll into the Breeders Cup with guns a blazing. One of those is the infamous Bob Baffert.Read More
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  • Floridaf · Baffert does look to be sitting pretty this year, especially since he has the home track advantage. I'm not sure that he'll win all that he has horses in; I have a few that I like better than his contingent, but he is rather loaded. · 251 days ago ·
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  • dani.pugh · It is never a given that you'll win everything. The juvenile has a few nice horses. Turbulent Decent is a very good filly, the sprint division still has some nice horses and the Classic division is as deep as i've ever seen. · 251 days ago ·
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My favorite race so far of the 2012 racing season for several reasons is the Preakness. One of the biggest explanations for my love of this year’s middle jewel is the admiration I felt for I’ll Have Another that day as he dug deep down for every ounce of courage he could muster to catch Bodemeister....Read More
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  • travel_vic · Just learned today the I'll Have Another's halter was donated for an acution for the Canadain Horse Racing Hall of Fame. If you want to bid on it come to the Mississauga Convention Center August 16th at 5:30 PM · 292 days ago ·
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  • illhaveanothertriplecrown · well, if I win the lottery between now and then I'll be there. · 289 days ago ·
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First time starter Know More wins the G2 Best Pal for the connections of I'll Have Another.Read More
  • BrianZipse · The 2013 Kentucky Derby could not be farther away, but so far so good for Know More ... I was impressed. · 293 days ago ·
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  • cpsoren121 · Wow, to break your maiden as a first timer in a graded stake? That's impressive and the connections must have known something. Stay on this path and who knows! · 292 days ago ·
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Owner J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O”Neill, who gained national attention this spring through the exploits of star three-year-old I”ll Have Another, unveiled another outstanding prospect Sunday when Know More, a two-year-old colt making the first start of his life, won the featured $150,000 Best ...Read More
Saturday Del Mar Recap – August 4 (6 out of 6) Polytrack played fair. A patient type nabbed the turf sprint opener, and a presser and a stalker made up the two turf route winners (rail at 14 feet). Hat trick for Rafael Bejarano. Apprentice jockey Eswan Flores booted home a pair. Bob Baffert saddled ...Read More
Scherer Magic, who provided a quick return on investment for owners Gary and Cecil Barber after they claimed him for $50,000 by winning the Hollywood Juvenile Championship a month later, will be trying to build on his burgeoning reputation Sunday when he competes in the Grade II $150,000 Best Pal St...Read More
Following up a smashing debut victory with another impressive win in Sunday’s $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (Grade II) at Del Mar, Creative Cause has emerged as the top two-year-old...Read More
  • zatt · Probably the best looking juvenile I have seen so far this year! · 657 days ago ·
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  • mdoche · No doubt. And he should improve with the added distance. · 657 days ago ·
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Creative Cause made it two-for-two in his brief career and stamped himself a two-year-old to watch on the national scene with a powerful victory in the featured Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar Sunday.Read More
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  • KyOaksRunner · I loved his win...and his pedigree! · 657 days ago ·
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  • ghelguera · More impressive than Overdriven. What I liked about this colt was that he won his debut going wire to wire and yesterday in the Best Pal, Bejarano got him to settle nicely and showed a nice turn of foot to run down another nice colt. Very promising! · 657 days ago ·
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Mike Harrington-trained Creative Cause generated a lot of backstretch buzz with a 4 ¾-length victory in his racing debut on July 16 at Hollywood Park that received a 98 Beyer Speed Figure. And because of it, the gray son of Giant’s Causeway he has been established as the 2-1 morning line favorite Su...Read More
  • PatZMan · Well, it's way too early to make predictions about any of these 2 year olds. So many things can go wrong between now and "Churchill Downs 2012", but Creative Cause does look good! · 658 days ago ·
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  • ajump08 · Well muscled, the right style to get two turns too. The biggest question will end up being the dirt. · 658 days ago ·
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Trainer Doug O’Neill, who saddled Azul Leon to win the 2008 Best Pal Stakes, will be aiming for another score in the $150,000 Grade II event on Sunday. With a 2-year-old colt appropriately named “I’ll Have Another.” The son of Flower Alley, purchased by O’Neill’s major client, J. Paul Reddam, for $3...Read More
Our favorite part of the year is upon us with the turf meeting the surf for the 72nd season of racing paradise at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club...Read More
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  • Raidr30 · Mr. Commons just changed that. First Favorite to finally win! · 676 days ago ·
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  • mdoche · Chalky end to the day with a meager Pick 4 payout. · 676 days ago ·
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Wednesday’s pick six from Del Mar includes a carryover of more than $178,000. The feature race is the Real Good Deal Stakes for CA-bred or sired 3-year-olds traveling seven furlongs on Polytrack. Morning line favorite Goggles McCoy looms an elusive target. Partly cloudy skies are expected with a hig...Read More
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, competing in California for the first time since December of 2007, won his first Del Mar stakes race in five years as he guided J P's Gusto to a front-running triumph in the featured $150,000 Best Pal Stakes for two-year-olds Sunday.   Ironically, Valenzuela was the r...Read More
Sunday’s pick six from Del Mar includes the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds traveling six one one-half furlongs on Polytrack. J P’s Gusto is the 2-1 morning line favorite but is stuck down on the rail and will not offer much value. Western Mood could be sitting on ready in his 3rd career sta...Read More
The Zenyatta camp held back from an all out commitment to run her in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch until she got a few "strolls around the Polytrack".  I was at the barn today and the report is all systems go!  The hesitation to commit stemmed from a concern about Zenyatta's affinity for the Po...Read More
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  • cugel the clever · Z beats a bunch of nobodies by a short head in Standardbred time (1:45+ for 8 1/2 furlongs). What a farce. Most NW3/L have better fields than this. Will be interesting to see how honest is the Beyer figure for this race. No way it should be over 90. · 1023 days ago ·
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  • sdnaples · Hey Cugel the Stupid.....Zenyatta let the speed horses run the 1/2 in 50 and then beat them down the stretch. · 1023 days ago ·
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Race Results & Past Performances

Add Race Result
Date(Descending)
Tr
#
Dist.[Filter]
Sf.
$
Cnd
Race
1st
2nd
3rd
Time
View DetailsView Video08/05/12Dmr86 1/2 fS02 MBest Pal Stakes-G2Know MoreHeir KittyMiss Empire1:16.14
View DetailsView Video08/07/11Dmr86 1/2 fS02 MBest Pal Stakes-G2Creative CauseI'll Have AnotherMighty Monsoon1:15.62
View DetailsView Video08/08/10Dmr86 1/2 fS02 MBest Pal Stakes-G2J P's GustoSway AwayWestern Mood1:16.61
View Details08/09/09Dmr46 1/2 fS02 MBest Pal Stakes-G2Lookin At LuckyMake Music for MeSmiling Tiger1:16.06
View Details08/10/08Dmr86 1/2 fS02 MBest Pal Stakes-G2Azul LeonCoronet of a BaronCharlie's Moment1:16.73
View DetailsView Video08/15/04Dmr26 1/2 fD02 MBest Pal Stakes-G2Roman RulerActxecutiveSlewsbag1:15.93
View Details08/15/01Dmr76 1/2 fD02 MBest Pal Stakes-G3OfficerMetatronEssence Of Dubai1:15.08
View Details08/18/99Dmr76 1/2 fD02 MBest Pal Stakes-G3Dixie UnionExchange RateCaptain Steve1:16.40
View Details08/23/95Dmr86 1/2 fD02 MBest Pal Stakes-G3Cobra KingNorthern AfleetDesert Native1:15.89