Best Pal Wins at Santa Anita

Best Pal, who had been sidelined for 3 1/2 months because of a bruised foot, scored a one-length victory over Geenger Man in the $65,600 Skywalker Stakes at Santa Anita on Wednesday.

The victory, the 18th in 45 starts for the 7-year-old gelding, was worth $36,350 and sent his earnings over the $5.6-million mark. Only the retired Alysheba and John Henry--with respective totals of $6.6 million and $6.5 million--are ahead of him.

Ridden by Chris McCarron, Best Pal was in fourth place after three-quarters of a mile in the Skywalker. They took the lead with less than a sixteenth of a mile left and completed the mile in 1:35 1/5. Best Pal paid $4.20, winning for the first time since the San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita in February.