2026 Best Pal S.

about this race

Race Info
History

A 6 ½ furlong dirt race for 2-year-olds at Del Mar, the Best Pal is one of the first graded stakes for 2-year-olds in California. Formerly named the Balboa Stakes, the Best Pal was renamed in 1996 after the 1990 winner Best Pal. Since 1990, classic winners such as Timber Country, Llokin at Lucky and Nyquist have all won the race.

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Fastest Time (since 1976): 1:09:19
Greatest Winning Margin (since 1976): 10 1/4 lengths

Date	Past Winner	Trainer	Jockey	Owner
08/07/2026	Hughes Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Juan J. Hernandez Owner / Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor Racing LLC, Albaugh Family Stables, LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine	Bob Baffert	Juan J. Hernandez	Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor Racing LLC, Albaugh Family Stables, LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
08/08/2025	Desert Gate Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Juan J. Hernandez Owner / Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl and Weitman, Paul	Bob Baffert	Juan J. Hernandez	Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl and Weitman, Paul
08/10/2024	Getaway Car Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Juan J. Hernandez Owner / SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, et al	Bob Baffert	Juan J. Hernandez	SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, et al
08/13/2022	Havnameltdown Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Juan J. Hernandez Owner / Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl and Weitman, Paul	Bob Baffert	Juan J. Hernandez	Pegram, Michael E., Watson, Karl and Weitman, Paul
08/06/2021	Pappacap Trainer / Ryan Hanson Jockey / Joe Bravo Owner / Drakos, Chris and Hanson, Ryan	Ryan Hanson	Joe Bravo	Drakos, Chris and Hanson, Ryan
08/09/2019	Collusion Illusion Trainer / Jerry Hollendorfer Jockey / Joseph Talamo Owner / OXO Equine LLC	Jerry Hollendorfer	Joseph Talamo	OXO Equine LLC
08/11/2017	Run Away Trainer / Simon Callaghan Jockey / Flavien Prat Owner / Kaleem Shah, Inc.	Simon Callaghan	Flavien Prat	Kaleem Shah, Inc.
08/12/2016	Klimt Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Rafael Bejarano Owner / Kaleem Shah, Inc.	Bob Baffert	Rafael Bejarano	Kaleem Shah, Inc.
08/07/2015	Nyquist Trainer / Mark E. Casse Jockey / Mario Gutierrez Owner / John C. Oxley	Mark E. Casse	Mario Gutierrez	John C. Oxley
08/04/2012	Know More Trainer / Doug F. O'Neill Jockey / Garrett K. Gomez Owner / Reddam Racing LLC	Doug F. O'Neill	Garrett K. Gomez	Reddam Racing LLC
08/06/2011	Creative Cause Trainer / Mike Harrington Jockey / Rafael Bejarano Owner / Gem, Inc. (Waken)	Mike Harrington	Rafael Bejarano	Gem, Inc. (Waken)
08/11/2007	Salute the Sarge Trainer / Christopher S. Paasch Jockey / Michael C. Baze Owner / Charles Cono, LLC	Christopher S. Paasch	Michael C. Baze	Charles Cono, LLC
08/13/2005	What a Song Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Victor Espinoza Owner / Fog City Stable	Bob Baffert	Victor Espinoza	Fog City Stable
08/20/2002	Kafwain Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Victor Espinoza Owner / The Thoroughbred Corporation	Bob Baffert	Victor Espinoza	The Thoroughbred Corporation
08/17/1999	Dixie Union Trainer / Richard E. Mandella Jockey / Alex O. Solis Owner / Golden Eagle Farm	Richard E. Mandella	Alex O. Solis	Golden Eagle Farm
08/19/1997	Old Topper Trainer / Noble Threewitt Jockey / Alex O. Solis Owner / Heinz H. Steinmann	Noble Threewitt	Alex O. Solis	Heinz H. Steinmann
08/22/1995	Cobra King Trainer / Jenine Sahadi Jockey / Russell A. Baze Owner / Golden Eagle Farm	Jenine Sahadi	Russell A. Baze	Golden Eagle Farm
08/20/1991	Scherando Trainer / Ian P. D. Jory Jockey / Francisco Mena Owner / Golden Eagle Farm	Ian P. D. Jory	Francisco Mena	Golden Eagle Farm
08/22/1989	A. Sir Dancer Trainer / Charles M. Marikian Jockey / Eddie J. Delahoussaye Owner / Diamond Jim Enterprises & Edson	Charles M. Marikian	Eddie J. Delahoussaye	Diamond Jim Enterprises & Edson
09/01/1987	Purdue King Trainer / Irv Guiney Jockey / Chris J. McCarron Owner / Frankfurt Stable	Irv Guiney	Chris J. McCarron	Frankfurt Stable
08/27/1985	Swear Trainer / Willard L. Proctor Jockey / Eddie J. Delahoussaye Owner / Elmendorf	Willard L. Proctor	Eddie J. Delahoussaye	Elmendorf
08/24/1982	Roving Boy Trainer / Joseph Manzi Jockey / Eddie J. Delahoussaye Owner / Harbor View Farm	Joseph Manzi	Eddie J. Delahoussaye	Harbor View Farm
08/26/1980	Bold and Gold Trainer / William A. Reavis Jockey / D. C. Hall Owner / Rexius T	William A. Reavis	D. C. Hall	Rexius T
08/28/1979	Doonesbury Trainer / Gordon C. Campbell Jockey / Sandy Hawley Owner / Elmendorf	Gordon C. Campbell	Sandy Hawley	Elmendorf

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Results

Win

Place

Show

1^st

3 Hughes

$5.00

$3.00

$2.20

Jockey / Juan J. Hernandez
Trainer / Bob Baffert

2^nd

1 Phone Booth

$6.80

$3.00

Jockey / Umberto Rispoli
Trainer / Doug F. O'Neill

Owner / Reddam Racing LLC
Breeder / Reddam Racing, LLC

3^rd

6 Kennyten

$2.10

Jockey / Ricardo Gonzalez
Trainer / Vladimir Cerin

Owner / Wilson, Holly and David
Breeder / Nicholas M. Lotz

4^th

2 He Is No Lie

Jockey / Emisael Jaramillo
Trainer / Doug F. O'Neill

Owner / Purple Rein Racing and Davis, Mark D.
Breeder / Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope McLean Jr.

5^th

5 You Want Some

Jockey / Kazushi Kimura
Trainer / Peter Miller

Owner / Michael McMillan
Breeder / H. Allen Poindexter

Scratches

Icanthelpmyself

Payoff

Pick 3
5-2-3

5-2-3

$13

Daily Double
2-3

2-3

$11

Exacta
3-1

3-1

$20

Quinella
1-3

1-3

$25

Superfecta
3-1-6-2

3-1-6-2

$6

Trifecta
3-1-6

3-1-6

$25