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The Best Pal Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Race Track in Del Mar, California. The race is open to horses, age two, that are willing to race six and one-half furlongs on Polytrack. A Grade II event, it carries a purse of $150,000.
Inaugurated in 1967 as the Balboa Stakes, it was raced on turf and open to horses age three and up. For 1967 only, the race was run in two divisions. It was not run again until 1972 when it was changed to an event for two-year-olds. For 1995 the race was renamed to honor Best Pal, a California-born racehorse who won the Balboa Stakes in 1990 and whose career earnings totaled more than $5.6 million for his owner-breeder, Golden Eagle Farm. Since inception the race has been contested at various distances and surfaces.
| Stakes Race | Grade | Purse |
|---|---|---|
| Eddie Read Stakes | I | $300,000 |
| San Clemente Handicap | II | $150,000 |
| Cougar II Handicap | III | $125,000 |
| San Diego Handicap | II | $200,000 |
| Bing Crosby Stakes | I | $250,000 |
| Sorrento Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | I | $300,000 |
| Best Pal Stakes | II | $150,000 |
| La Jolla Handicap | II | $150,000 |
| John C. Mabee Stakes | II | $250,000 |
| Del Mar Oaks | I | $250,000 |
| Rancho Bernardo Handicap | III | $150,000 |
| Del Mar Mile | II | $200,000 |
| Del Mar Handicap | II | $200,000 |
| Pacific Classic Stakes | I | $1,000,000 |
| Pat O'Brien Stakes | I | $250,000 |
| Del Mar Debutante | I | $250,000 |
| Del Mar Derby | II | $250,000 |
| Palomar Handicap | II | $150,000 |
| Del Mar Futurity | I | $250,000 |
