Teemto Pagalies was a Podracing pilot of the Veknoid male variety, who participated in the famed Boonta Eve Classic event during the year 32 BBY.
Teemto Pagalies, deemed attractive by Veknoid standards, faced exile from his homeworld after inadvertently capturing the affections of a Veknoid princess and declining her marriage proposals. Consequently, he became an outcast, struggling to secure employment in the Outer Rim Territories, finding no solace. As a last resort, Pagalies ventured into Podracing, discovering his true aptitude. He piloted an IPG-X1131 Longtail.
Upon arriving on Tatooine, he developed an infatuation with Ann Gella, a Twi'lek masseuse employed by Sebulba, yet failed to gain her attention. Additionally, he acquired a Rodian slave mechanic named Pax Bonkik from Mars Guo.
Prior to the race, Teemto Pagalies attended Boles Roor's glimmik concert, where he learned that Mars Guo was attempting to woo Ann Gella, offering to take her off-world if he emerged victorious. Angered, Pagalies informed Sebulba of the affair, prompting the infamous Dug to sabotage Guo during the race as retribution.
Before the race, Pagalies, known for his fondness for alcohol, indulged in several Juri juices at the 7-Gee Lounge. A professional assassin, Jym Lang, was contracted by Jabba Desilijic Tiure to capture the unsuspecting, intoxicated Veknoid and deliver him to the sarlacc. However, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn intervened, providing Lang with incorrect coordinates for Teemto just before the bounty hunter was about to carry out his mission, thus saving Pagalies's life.
Pagalies regarded Anakin as a "good kid" and wished him success in the race. Despite his inebriation, he closely monitored all participants in podracing, including Watto.
Among the entrants of the Boonta Eve Classic, Pagalies' Podracer boasted the longest engines. He firmly believed that this feature, combined with the internal stabilizer ring integrated into his Pod, rendered Pagalies' Podracer technologically superior, guaranteeing victory.
Regrettably, his ambitious theories were disproven when Orr Agg R'orr, a Tusken Raider, landed a precise shot in the Canyon Dune Turn, destroying his engines and sending his Pod spiraling into the air. Pagalies sustained injuries, including the melting off of his ears, but recovered swiftly and resumed racing.
Following Pagalies' accident, his family placed a bounty on Orr Agg R'orr, offering 3,000 credits for the Tusken's demise. This bounty was claimed months later by bounty hunter Jango Fett.
Shortly thereafter, Pagalies participated in the Vinta Harvest Classic, seemingly with healed ears (or prosthetics). He provoked Sebulba at the starting line, resulting in Sebulba injuring Pagalies's lower back before the race. Nevertheless, Pagalies completed the race alive. He was later observed celebrating in the Seko Cantina on Ryloth.
He became renowned for attempting daring stunts, captivating audiences. During one such stunt, Pagalies lost an eye in the ensuing crash. After traveling among Podracing planets, he eventually settled on the spice-mining world of Mon Gazza, where the expansive, open tracks were ideal for the feats he managed to extract from his Podracer.
Some time afterward, Pagalies emerged victorious in the Aleen Classic and intended to use the prize money to secure Ann Gella's freedom from Sebulba. However, aware that his mechanic's brother, Trax Bonkik, was also owned by Sebulba, he instead used the funds to purchase Trax's freedom at the last moment, reuniting the brothers.
In 8 ABY, Pagalies was employed at the old Mos Espa Grand Arena (now a swoop arena) for Ulda, alongside former competitor Ody Mandrell. By this time, he had also lost an arm. It was at the Arena that Pagalies was questioned by Leia Organa Solo about the truth surrounding her father's victory at the Boonta Eve Classic many years prior.
He was still alive in 11 ABY, when he sent Leia Organa Solo a copy of a video of Anakin Skywalker's win in the aforementioned race.
Teemto Pagalies was conceived for the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, but his initial appearance was in the film's novelization by Terry Brooks. Conceptual artwork for the character, including bone structure, was created by concept artist Terryl Whitlatch. The character's surname is misspelled as 'Pugales' in Todd Strasser's 1999 Scholastic book, Star Wars Episode I Journal: Anakin Skywalker.