Best Pal (CA)
Best Pal won 17 stakes races — including the inaugural running of the Pacific Classic — and retired as the all-time earnings leader among California-breds with $5,668,245.
2010
1988
Habitony
Ubetshedid
King Pellinore
John Mabee
Betty Mabee
Golden Eagle Farm
Ian Jory
Gary F. Jones
Richard E. Mandella
1990-1996
$5,668,245
Racing Record
47
Starts
| 1990 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | $1026195 $1,026,195 |
| 1991 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 1 | $1107500 $1,107,500 |
| 1992 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | $1672000 $1,672,000 |
| 1993 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | $903750 $903,750 |
| 1994 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | $420200 $420,200 |
| 1995 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $538600 $538,600 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 $0 |
Biography
Best Pal won 17 stakes races — including the inaugural running of the Pacific Classic — and retired as the all-time earnings leader among California-breds with $5,668,245.
Bred by John and Betty Mabee and campaigned by their Golden Eagle Farm, Best Pal, a brown gelding, broke his maiden in his career debut at Hollywood Park in May 1990. As a 2-year-old, Best Pal won the Hollywood Futurity, Norfolk Stakes, Del Mar Futurity, and Balboa Stakes.
After finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby as a 3-year-old, Best Pal won the Swaps Stakes and Pacific Classic.
Best Pal began his 4-year-old season in 1992 with consecutive victories in the San Fernando Stakes, Charles H. Strub Stakes, Santa Anita Handicap, and Oaklawn Handicap.
The following year, Best Pal won the Hollywood Gold Cup as a 5-year-old. He added a win in the Native Diver Handicap in 1994 and the San Antonio Handicap in 1995.
Best Pal was retired in 1996 with a career record of 18-11-4 from 47 starts. He was named California Horse of the Year in 1990, 1991, and 1992. Best Pal died in 1998 at the age of 10 and was buried at Golden Eagle Farm.
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