It might sound onerous to imagine, however as little as 33 years in the past, standard Del Mar racetrack in California lacked a signature race to outline its summer time stakes schedule.
There have been loads of high quality races held every year on the seaside observe, however none that would definitively rank as a must-watch, can’t-miss occasion.
That each one modified when businessman John C. Mabee pushed for the creation of a wealthy new race — the $1 million Pacific Traditional, held for the primary time on Aug. 10, 1991.
Mabee was no stranger to high-quality horse racing. A member of The Jockey Membership, Mabee and his spouse bred dozens of stakes winners whereas racing their homebreds underneath the identify Golden Eagle Farm. Mabee additionally was chairman of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Membership’s Board of Administrators, giving him a platform to push the creation of a season-defining stakes race.
Contemplating Del Mar was already among the many nation’s hottest tracks when it comes to wagering deal with and every day attendance, it was solely logical for a race just like the Pacific Traditional to develop into a actuality. When the 1 ¼-mile race was introduced in December 1990, Del Mar President and Basic Supervisor Joe Harper expressed an identical sentiment.
“In gentle of our present standing within the nationwide racing group, the Board of Administrators of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Membership felt a race of this magnitude could be a becoming and well timed step in enhancing our status and bringing our followers a style of world-class racing,” Harper defined within the Dec. 5, 1990 version of the Oceanside, Calif North County Instances.
Whereas million-dollar races should not unusual these days, the large purse for the Pacific Traditional was noteworthy on the time. The North County Instances mentioned the purse could be “far and away probably the most profitable prize ever supplied on the seaside observe,” exceeding the purse of $372,100 for the 1989 Del Mar Futurity.
The wealthy prize and traditional distance proved good for attracting top-tier expertise to the Pacific Traditional. The eight-horse subject that assembled for the inaugural operating of Del Mar’s richest race included a number of the finest horses in coaching. Essentially the most recognizable identify was Unbridled, winner of the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Traditional, however he wasn’t even favored. That honor went to Farma Method, a five-time graded stakes winner with top-level victories within the Santa Anita Handicap and Pimlico Particular Handicap on his report.
Grade 1 Oaklawn Handicap winner Festin additionally obtained loads of wagering help, as did Twilight Agenda, a then-two-time graded stakes winner who would go on to develop into a Grade 1 winner and end second within the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Traditional. Itsallgreektome, runner-up within the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile and a two-time Grade 1 winner on turf, added additional depth to the stellar subject, whereas even longshots Anshan and Stalwart Charger had received a number of graded stakes.
After which there was Finest Pal, bred and owned by Mabee himself. Because the lone 3-year-old within the subject, he had but to show himself in opposition to older runners, although he’d definitely proven critical expertise in opposition to his personal age group. Winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes and Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity as a juvenile, Finest Pal had misplaced his first 5 begins of 1991, however this string of defeats included runner-up finishes within the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby.
Finest Pal lastly turned issues round within the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes on July 7 at Hollywood Park. Touring the identical 1 ¼-mile distance because the Pacific Traditional, Finest Pal rolled to a decisive four-length victory within the strong time of two:00.70.
Notably, the Swaps Stakes marked Finest Pal’s first begin underneath the care of coach Gary Jones, who elected to strike whereas the iron was sizzling and provides Finest Pal a stiff take a look at within the Pacific Traditional. The transfer appeared to point confidence, but Jones later admitted within the Aug. 11, 1991 version of Lincoln, Nebraska’s The Lincoln Star that he had some uncertainties about operating Finest Pal in opposition to robust older horses in Del Mar’s function race.
“I don’t suppose we had been completely 100% assured,” Jones mentioned. “I believe we had been sensible to strive it.”
Even with the uncertainty surrounding Finest Pal’s first foray in opposition to older horses, Del Mar bettors had been impressed sufficient by his victory within the Swaps to ship Finest Pal off because the co-second alternative within the Pacific Traditional wagering. Ultimately, they had been rewarded for his or her religion, however first needed to endure a heart-pounding end.
Below a affected person journey from jockey Pat Valenzuela, Finest Pal broke a step slowly from the beginning gate and dropped again to sixth place early on as Farma Method — intent on securing the early benefit — battled to a slim early benefit over Twilight Agenda whereas sprinting by quick quarter-mile fractions of :22.87, :45.92, and 1:09.99. Midway by the race, Finest Pal had simply two horses overwhelmed, main the distant trailers Unbridled and Festin whereas racing a number of lengths behind Farma Method.
However Valenzuela’s conservative journey was a recipe for achievement within the fast-paced race. Rounding the far flip, Finest Pal slowly superior as Twilight Agenda tackled Farma Method and seized command. Twilight Agenda’s rally to the lead was so decisive that Finest Pal briefly misplaced floor on the brand new chief, with Twilight Agenda opening up a commanding 2 ½-length benefit on the eighth pole.
Some horses would have been discouraged. However within the ultimate furlong of the Del Mar homestretch, Finest Pal dug deep and located one thing further. Tenaciously regaining misplaced floor, he inched nearer and nearer to Twilight Agenda, slicing the hole to 1 ½ lengths, then a size, after which only a half-length. Inside the ultimate sixteenth of a mile, with mere yards left to be run, Finest Pal’s momentum received the day, and he cast previous Twilight Agenda to prevail by a size.
Finest Pal flew throughout the end line in 1:59.86, shattering the observe report for a hardly ever run distance. Twilight Agenda, gallant to the end line, completed 2 ¾ lengths forward of the late-running Unbridled. However the star of the present was the teenager who humbled his elders along with his resounding victory.
“Pat was sitting there proper the place he was purported to be — 4 or 5 lengths off of it,” Jones mentioned within the Aug. 11, 1991 version of the Chicago Tribune. “I assumed Pat was ultra-patient. It’s like he has a clock in his head. Man, he rode this race cool.”
“I used to be saving, saving, saving with him. I knew I wanted to have one thing left late,” Valenzuela defined within the Chicago Tribune. “When the lane got here up, I requested him and he fired. He gave me all he had. What a pleasant, good colt.”
For Mabee, the second was doubly candy. Not solely did he witness the inauguration of the good race he championed, he was capable of cheer his homebred star — a California-bred, no much less — to an exhilarating victory in opposition to a top-class subject.
“I simply didn’t wish to get disgraced,” remarked Mabee in The Lincoln Star, “and [Best Pal] certain didn’t shame us right now.”
Within the years to come back, Finest Pal would proceed successful high-class races on his method to profession earnings of $5,668,245, then the very best sum ever gathered by a California-bred. However first, he helped put the Pacific Traditional on the map with a memorable victory on a sunny Saturday at Del Mar.
Observe: This story was initially revealed in 2019 and has been up to date.
