Unbetshedid, Dam of California Sensation Best Pal, Dead

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Ubetshedid, the 23-year-old dam of three-time California Horse of the Year Best Pal, was euthanized Sept. 12. The daughter of King Pellinore resided at Betty Mabee's Golden Eagle Farm near Ramona, Calif., where she had spent her last months as the surrogate mother of an orphaned foal. Not long after the foal was moved to join a group of weanlings, Ubetshedid's health began to decline.

Bred by Mabee and her late husband, John, Ubetshedid produced 11 foals, six of which were winners. Best Pal, a homebred for the couple, won California's three major events for older runners in the Golden Eagle silks, taking the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (gr. I), and the inaugural Pacific Classic in track-record time of 1:59.86 for 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar. The gelded son of Habitony won four other grade I events, ran second in the 1991 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), and earned $5,668,245. He died in 1998.

Ubetshedid's other runners included stakes-placed Best Mate, American Day, and Prosperous Bid. The last two were graded stakes-placed. Ubetshedid's final foal is an unraced 2-year-old colt named New Event, by farm stallion Event of the Year.

A plaque honoring Ubetshedid will be posted at Golden Eagle Farm near the graves of Best Pal and Habitony.

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