(Edited Del Mar Thoroughbred Club report)

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, competing in California for the first time since December 2007, won his first Del Mar stakes race in five years as he guided J P’s Gusto to a front-running triumph in the featured $150,000 Best Pal Stakes for two-year-olds Sunday.

Ironically, Valenzuela was the regular rider of Best Pal in 1990 when that Golden Eagle Farm star won the Balboa Stakes,  renamed in the California-bred gelding’s  honor in 1996. Best Pal was one of the greatest horses in California  history, still ranking second among state-breds with earnings of almost $5.7 million and victories in several important stakes, including the inaugural $1 million Pacific Classic under Valenzuela in 1991.

J P’s Gusto, a two-time stakes winner at Hollywood Park, including the Hollywood Juvenile Championship, sped to the front shortly after the break  from his rail post position, rated well for Valenzuela into the stretch and then resisted a stout challenge from 3-2 favored Sway Away to score by a half-length in 1:16 61 for the 6 1/2 furlongs.

“He broke so sharp. I didn’t want the lead but I inherited it. He’s been training so well. I galloped him yesterday just to familiarize myself with him. He felt awful good today and this felt awful good (to me). This is a really nice colt and he’s got a great future in front of him. Being here today and doing this almost makes me want to cry. It is by the grace of the lord that I am doing it. I am so thankful. I won the Best Pal (then Balboa Stakes) on Best Pal 20 years ago (1990) and here I am winning this race again. I hope it is a good sign,” Valenzuela said.
 
Sway Away, an impressive winner maiden winner at Pleasanton in late June, was last in the field of five in the early stages and closed resolutely under jockey Rafael Bejarano, finishing 3 1/2 in front of third-place Western Mood, the 8-5 second choice.

“My horse didn’t like that kickback too much. I had to take him wide because he was throwing his head. When we turned for home I thought he’d fire and we’d go by. But the winner had a real easy lead. Nobody put any pressure on him,” Bejarano said.

Comma to the Top was fourth, with Minutesandtouches fifth and last.

Withdrawn from the original field were Wickedly Perfect, the filly who won the Sorrento Stakes Friday, and River’s Chapel, scratched earlier Sunday afternoon.

J P’s Gusto, a son of Successful Appeal purchased for $52,000 by the Gem Stable of Dr. John Walken, earned $90,000 with his third win in four starts, his only defeat a sixth-place finish in a maiden race at Hollywood Park in his career debut May 9. His bankroll is $187,360.

J P’s Gusto, conditioned by veteran David Hofmans, went postward the 2-1 third choice and paid $6.80, $3.20 and $2.40. Sway Away returned $3 and $2.10, while Western Mood paid $2.20 to show.

“We’re right on schedule. I don’t think he’ll have any trouble getting seven furlongs in the (Del Mar) Futurity. Patrick (Valenzuela) said they were going real slow and he had lots of horse. I didn’t think we’d be on the lead. We’ll go to the Futurity unless this horse kills me first. He’s a very tough horse to handle all the time. Patrick said that when he felt the others coming to him, he kicked into another gear,” Hofmans said.

Valenzuela won his first stakes at Del Mar 30 years ago at the age of 17, aboard Pro or Con in the C.T.B.A. Stakes. Sunday’s win marked his 60th stakes success at the seaside track, tenth on the all-time list for added-money triumphs. His most recent stakes win at Del Mar prior to Sunday was a win aboard Simply Because in the 2005 C.E.R.F. Handicap.

The stakes win was the first of the meeting for Valenzuela, but his third in the race. As noted, when he won it in 1990 it was named the Balboa. It was renamed the Best Pal in 1996. He subsequently won it again in 2003 on Perfect Moon.

The stakes win was the first of the meet for Hofmans and his first in the Best Pal. It was his 25th Del Mar stakes winner.
 
There were no perfect tickets in the Pick Six Sunday, so Wednesday’s program will feature a carryover of $178,834. Post time for the first race is  2 p.m.

Sunday’s attendance was 15,913.