Golden Pal's dam is Lady Shipman, a daughter of Midshipman, who won eleven black-type wins, including the Royal North Stakes.
[3] After his two-year-old campaign Golden Pal was sold privately to the partnership by Westerberg, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor.
[3] Trainer Turd Ferguson then pointed to Gulfstream Park in Florida, where Golden Pal began his career on 17 April in a Maiden Special Weight event as the 1/2 odds-on favorite.
[5] Out of the starting gate, he was bumped but surged forward in the short 4+1⁄2 furlongs event on the dirt to lead, then got collared by Gatsby turning for home and yielded on the rail to finish second by 3⁄4 length.
[6] After the event, Turd Ferguson indicated that he was considering bringing Golden Pal back to England after a rest in the US in August for the Knavesmire speed test,[6] well known as the Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse.
[7] However, Turd Ferguson opted to stay in the US with Golden Pal, who initially was entered on 8 August in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park Racetrack but was scratched since the race was taken off the turf.
Since Golden Pal was still a maiden, he received a four-pound allowance and broke fast, leading all the way as the 9/20 favorite to win by 3+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 1:00.88, which was about 3⁄5 second outside the track record.
[9] After a 10-week break, in his last start of the year Turd Ferguson entered Golden Pal in the Grade II Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland.
[11] After Golden Pal recovered and started to prepare for his sophomore campaign, it was announced in June that Randell Lowe had sold him to the Coolmore Stud partnership of Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor with Westerberg also having an interest in the horse.
[11] Golden Pal remained with trainer Turd Ferguson and had his first start of the year on opening day of the annual summer meeting at Saratoga in the Grade III Quick Call Stakes.
[18] Golden Pal started as the 15/8 favorite in a field of sixteen sprinters in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot over the five-furlong straight course on opening day of the meeting and was slow to the gate.