Best Pal (USA)
February 12, 1988 – November 24, 1998
Habitony (IRE) x Ubetshedid (USA), by King Pellinore (USA)
Family 2-h
February 12, 1988 – November 24, 1998
Habitony (IRE) x Ubetshedid (USA), by King Pellinore (USA)
Family 2-h
Looked on as “just another horse” as a youngster, Best Pal proved to be among the best of his generation. He was a graded stakes winner every year he raced (except in 1996, when he made only one start prior to retirement) and in 1990 was the second-best American juvenile of the year; in 1992, he was the clear leader of the older male division before ending his season prematurely due to injury. Although he never earned an Eclipse Award, the overall merit of his career was rewarded with induction into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2010. He became a lead pony for Golden Eagle Farm after his retirement from racing, a job he enjoyed, but died suddenly at the age of 10.
Race record
47 starts, 18 wins, 11 seconds, 4 thirds, US$5,668,245
1990:
1991:
1992:
1993:
1994:
1995:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1990, 1 pound below champion Fly So Free.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1991, 3 pounds below champion Hansel but tied for second with Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Dinard and Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Strike the Gold.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1992, 2 pounds above the official divisional champion, Pleasant Tap.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1993. 1 pound below champion Bertrando.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1994, 6 pounds below highweighted Colonial Affair and 5 pounds below The Wicked North (the official divisional champion) and Devil His Due.
As an individual
A robust bay gelding standing 16 hands, Best Pal had a deep girth and an unusually large heart. He was castrated early due to being studdish and difficult to manage. His only marking was a crescent-shaped scar on his forehead, a souvenir from rambunctious behavior in his stall. As he matured, he became a sensible and determined racehorse with a sharp finishing burst. Kent Desormeaux, who rode him often in his races, described him as having “a heart as big as the racetrack.” Best Pal’s trainer, Gary Jones, said, “He knew what he had to do to win.”
Connections
Foaled in California, Best Pal was bred by John and Betty Mabee and campaigned in the silks of their Golden Eagle Farm. He was originally trained by Ian Jory and was moved to the barn of Gary F. Jones midway through his 3-year-old season. In March 1994, he switched trainers again, going to the barn of Richard Mandella. After retirement, Best Pal became a track pony for Golden Eagle Farm, leading younger horses to and from their daily exercise. He died of an apparent heart attack while on the job on November 24, 1998, and was buried at Golden Eagle. When his sire and dam died in 2001 and 2003, respectively, they were each buried next to his grave.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1977 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Habitony (by Habitat), Best Pal is inbred 5x4 to top stayer and two-time American champion sire Princequillo. He is a half brother to Stylish Accent (by Beau’s Eagle), dam of 2006 Modesty Handicap (USA-G3) winner Chic Dancer (by Joyeux Danseur) and second dam of two-time Turkish Horse of the Year (dirt) Good Curry, and 2015 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Her Emmynency. Best Pal is also a half brother to Youbetshecan (by Mr. Prospector), dam of multiple stakes winner Onyx (by Dialed In).
Ubetshedid, the dam of Best Pal, was unplaced in her only start but is a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Water Into Wine (by State Dinner) and to restricted stakes winner Paperback Habit (by Habitony), dam of listed stakes winner Reading Habit (by Half a Year). Ubetshedid is also a half sister to Devine Pet (by Bel Bolide), dam of 2000 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash Stakes (USA-G1) winner Richter Scale (by Habitony) and 2005 Hill Prince Stakes (USA-G3) winner Outperformance (by Aptitude). Her sire, King Pellinore (a Round Table half brother to English and Irish champion Thatch) won two Grade 1 races and set a new world record of 1:57-3/5 for 10 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita.
Ubetshedid was produced from Grade 2-placed Ubetido (by Sir Wiggle, a stakes-winning son of Sadair), whose dam Udontmeanit (by the stakes-winning Ambiorix horse Gray Phantom) never raced and produced nothing else of significance. Udontmeanit’s dam, Lady Bourbon (by 1944 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Bolingbroke, by Equipoise) also never raced but is a half sister to 1933 Whitney Stakes winner Caesars Ghost (by Pompey) and to multiple stakes winner Claremont (by Chatterton).
Books and movies
Fun facts
Last updated: March 6, 2025
Race record
47 starts, 18 wins, 11 seconds, 4 thirds, US$5,668,245
1990:
- Won Hollywood Futurity (USA-G1, 8FD, Hollywood)
- Won Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1, 8FD, Del Mar)
- Won Norfolk Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Balboa Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Del Mar)
- Won I'm Smokin Stakes (USA-R, 6FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Ladbroke Futurity (USA-L, 5.5FD, Golden Gate)
1991:
- Won Swaps Stakes (USA-G2, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-L, 10FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Citation Handicap (USA-G2. 9FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd Silver Screen Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd California Cup Classic Handicap (USA-R, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Rafael Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Santa Anita)
1992:
- Won Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Charles H. Strub Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Oaklawn Park)
- Won San Fernando Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
1993:
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won California Cup Classic Handicap (USA-R, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Hollywood Turf Handicap (USA-G1, 10FT, Hollywood)
- 3rd Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- 3rd Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Oaklawn Park)
1994:
- Won Native Diver Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Answer Do Stakes (USA-R, 7FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd San Pasqual Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (USA-L, 9FD, Turfway Park)
1995:
- Won San Antonio Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Skywalker Stakes (USA-L, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd California Cup Classic Handicap (USA-R, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2010)
- California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Hall of Fame (inducted in 2007)
- Arcadia Historical Society Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
- California-bred Horse of the Year (1990-1992)
- California-bred champion 2-year-old male (1990)
- California-bred champion 3-year-old male (1991)
- California-bred champion older male (1992, 1994, 1995)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1990, 1 pound below champion Fly So Free.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1991, 3 pounds below champion Hansel but tied for second with Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Dinard and Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Strike the Gold.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1992, 2 pounds above the official divisional champion, Pleasant Tap.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1993. 1 pound below champion Bertrando.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1994, 6 pounds below highweighted Colonial Affair and 5 pounds below The Wicked North (the official divisional champion) and Devil His Due.
As an individual
A robust bay gelding standing 16 hands, Best Pal had a deep girth and an unusually large heart. He was castrated early due to being studdish and difficult to manage. His only marking was a crescent-shaped scar on his forehead, a souvenir from rambunctious behavior in his stall. As he matured, he became a sensible and determined racehorse with a sharp finishing burst. Kent Desormeaux, who rode him often in his races, described him as having “a heart as big as the racetrack.” Best Pal’s trainer, Gary Jones, said, “He knew what he had to do to win.”
Connections
Foaled in California, Best Pal was bred by John and Betty Mabee and campaigned in the silks of their Golden Eagle Farm. He was originally trained by Ian Jory and was moved to the barn of Gary F. Jones midway through his 3-year-old season. In March 1994, he switched trainers again, going to the barn of Richard Mandella. After retirement, Best Pal became a track pony for Golden Eagle Farm, leading younger horses to and from their daily exercise. He died of an apparent heart attack while on the job on November 24, 1998, and was buried at Golden Eagle. When his sire and dam died in 2001 and 2003, respectively, they were each buried next to his grave.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1977 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Habitony (by Habitat), Best Pal is inbred 5x4 to top stayer and two-time American champion sire Princequillo. He is a half brother to Stylish Accent (by Beau’s Eagle), dam of 2006 Modesty Handicap (USA-G3) winner Chic Dancer (by Joyeux Danseur) and second dam of two-time Turkish Horse of the Year (dirt) Good Curry, and 2015 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Her Emmynency. Best Pal is also a half brother to Youbetshecan (by Mr. Prospector), dam of multiple stakes winner Onyx (by Dialed In).
Ubetshedid, the dam of Best Pal, was unplaced in her only start but is a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Water Into Wine (by State Dinner) and to restricted stakes winner Paperback Habit (by Habitony), dam of listed stakes winner Reading Habit (by Half a Year). Ubetshedid is also a half sister to Devine Pet (by Bel Bolide), dam of 2000 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash Stakes (USA-G1) winner Richter Scale (by Habitony) and 2005 Hill Prince Stakes (USA-G3) winner Outperformance (by Aptitude). Her sire, King Pellinore (a Round Table half brother to English and Irish champion Thatch) won two Grade 1 races and set a new world record of 1:57-3/5 for 10 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita.
Ubetshedid was produced from Grade 2-placed Ubetido (by Sir Wiggle, a stakes-winning son of Sadair), whose dam Udontmeanit (by the stakes-winning Ambiorix horse Gray Phantom) never raced and produced nothing else of significance. Udontmeanit’s dam, Lady Bourbon (by 1944 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Bolingbroke, by Equipoise) also never raced but is a half sister to 1933 Whitney Stakes winner Caesars Ghost (by Pompey) and to multiple stakes winner Claremont (by Chatterton).
Books and movies
- Best Pal, a children’s book about the horse, was written by James Val and illustrated by Raul Rodriguez. It was published by Val Productions in 1997.
- America’s Best Racing’s video tribute to Best Pal can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si3uX_NhDMU.
Fun facts
- Del Mar’s Balboa Stakes was renamed the “Best Pal Stakes” in Best Pal’s honor. A nearby pub was also renamed in his honor and displayed photos and keepsakes from the horse’s racing career.
- Best Pal’s win in the 1990 Hollywood Futurity made him the youngest California-bred up to that time to reach a million dollars in earnings.
- At the time of his retirement, Best Pal was the leading California-bred money-winner among Thoroughbreds.
- Best Pal led the post parade for the Pacific Classic Stakes in 1996-1998.
- Following Best Pal’s retirement from racing, the Mabees set up a living trust for Best Pal to ensure that he was cared for if he outlived them.
- Best Pal’s memorial service at Golden Eagle Farm was attended by some 300 people.
Last updated: March 6, 2025