Odds-on choice Creative Cause staked his claim as Southern California's top juvenile colt when he galloped to a 1 3/4-length victory in the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 7.
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Seven juvenile colts, led by a pair from the prolific Bob Baffert barn, look for a first stakes victory in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 7.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela earned his first California stakes victory since the fall of 2007 when he guided J P's Gusto to a front-running half-length win in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 8.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Patrick Valenzuela, a five-time champion at Del Mar but riding at the seashore for the first time in three years, will ride 2-1 morning line favorite J P's Gusto in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 8.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
J P's Gusto, the odds-on winner of the July 5 Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. III), will take the next step on his life's journey Aug. 8 at Del Mar in the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II).
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Favored Lookin at Lucky, in the familiar Mike Pegram silks for trainer Bob Baffert, jumped into graded company with a three-quarters of a length win in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 9.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Smiling Tiger, a Northern California shipper whose two wins were by a combined 14 lengths, gets tested for class in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 9.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Jockey Omar Berrio was suspended for six months by Del Mar stewards Aug. 13 after he tested positive for cocaine.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Azul Leon remained unbeaten with an assist from the Del Mar stewards, who disqualified the first-place finisher Kelly Leak from victory in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 10.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Unbeaten Azul Leon became the first graded winner for leading 2008 first-crop sire Lion Heart when he scored by four lengths in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. III) last month. He heads an inexperienced field of 10 in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 10 at Del Mar.
Thursday, August 07, 2008Undefeated Salute the Sarge, taking advantage of a couple of key scratches, wore down odds-on favorite Georgie Boy close to home to win the $147,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds on the Del Mar Polytrack Aug. 12.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Salute the Sarge and Leonides, separated by a nose in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. III) July 4, clash once more in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Del Mar Sunday.
Thursday, August 09, 2007Powerhouse trainers Doug O'Neill, with three entries, and Bob Baffert, with two, dominate the field of eight entered in the $150,000 Best Pal (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Del Mar Sunday.
Friday, August 11, 2006Bob and Beverly Lewis' What a Song is unbeaten in three starts after an effortless 2 3/4-length victory over Bashert in Sunday's $150,000 Best Pal (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Del Mar.
Sunday, August 14, 2005Fog City Stable's heavily-favored Roman Ruler, in his second career start, galloped past his stablemate Actxecutive in mid-stretch on his way to an easy victory in the Best Pal (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Del Mar Sunday.
Monday, August 16, 2004Actxecutive and Roman Ruler, a pair of sharp 2-year-olds trained by Bob Baffert, stand out in Sunday's $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Friday, August 13, 2004Trainer Bob Baffert's highly prized 2-year-old Roman Ruler fired a bullet :57 4/5 for five furlongs Monday morning in preparation for Sunday's $150,000 Best Pal (gr. II) at Del Mar.
Monday, August 09, 2004Perfect Moon, a $4,700 yearling purchase, won his second consecutive graded stakes Sunday at Del Mar, capturing the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-olds by 1 1/4 length with a powerful stretch drive.
Sunday, August 17, 2003Featuring the return of Hollywood Juvenile Championship winner Perfect Moon and four impressive maiden winners at the seaside, a field of 11 classy 2-year-olds is set for Sunday's $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at 6 1/2 furlongs on the Del Mar main track.
Friday, August 15, 2003The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Kafwain, a two-year-old stablemate of Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem, earned the first stakes victory of his brief career with a come-from-behind triumph in the featured $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. III) at Del Mar on Wednesday.
Wednesday, August 21, 2002Outta Here, who has yet to win a race but already is stakes placed, looms as a dangerous factor in Wednesday's grade III, $150,000 Best Pal Stakes.
Tuesday, August 20, 2002Inamorato, considered by many the top 2-year-old prospect in Eoin Harty's talent-rich Godolphin Racing stable, will miss next week's Best Pal Stakes (gr. III) because of a virus and now appears unlikely for the Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) on the seaside track's Sept. 11 closing-day program.
Wednesday, August 14, 2002The Thoroughbred Corporation's Officer remained undefeated from three starts with a stakes-record setting victory over two rivals in the $138,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. III) and Double Cat, a half-sister to War Chant, earned her first win on Wednesday at Del Mar.
Wednesday, August 15, 2001Three longshot winners on Monday at Del Mar helped create a carryover of $134,179 for Wednesday's pick six at the Southern California track. A field of five is entered in Wednesday's feature, the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-olds.
Monday, August 13, 2001Gary M. Garber's Flame Thrower contested the early pace while four wide on the backstretch before displaying a burst of speed into the turn en route to a 2 3/4-length victory over fellow 2-year-olds in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes Wednesday at Del Mar.
Wednesday, August 23, 2000Joe Garcia Jr. trainee Squirtle Squirt will put his four-race winning streak on the line when he takes on six other 2-year-olds in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. III) Wednesday at Del Mar.
Sunday, August 20, 2000
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