Pacific Classic 2024 Contenders at Del Mar

Pacific Classic is a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Classic

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's richest and most prestigious race, the Grade I $1,000,000 Pacific Classic, a Win And You're In for the Breeders' Cup Classic, takes place on Saturday, August 31.

** UPDATE ** August 30 - Adare Manor, California's leading older female, will not start in Saturday's Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar after tying up after training on Thursday, trainer Bob Baffert said.

"Adare Manor tied up a little bit after her gallop," Baffert said. "I don't feel she's 100 percent. She can't be off of her game. We're going to sit this one out."

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Topped by the crackerjack racemare Adare Manor, nine seasoned horses will go to the post at Del Mar in the 34th edition of the seaside track's premier event - the $1-million, Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Saturday, August 31.

Adare Manor, a daughter of Uncle Mo owned by Michael Lund Petersen, comes into the mile and one-quarter headliner off a smart tally in the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch earlier in the Del Mar session and now sports a bankroll of $2,096,000.

This will be her first attempt at tackling males, but the track's morning line maker, Jeff Siegel, has no doubts about her ability to do just fine in that context and has hung her the 9/5 favorite for the test that will headline an 11-race card with five graded stakes and more than $2 million in purses.

The race is a "Win & You're In" event tied directly to the 41st running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, which this year for the first time will carry a purse of $7 million. Del Mar's "Classic" winner will receive an automatic entry into the BC race with all pre-entry and entry fees waived. That race, also at a mile and one quarter, will be run at Del Mar on Saturday, November 2.

Del Mar's leading rider, Juan Hernandez, has the call on Adare Manor, who is trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert. Should they win the race, it would be Hernandez's first victory, but it would be Baffert's record-extending eighth.

Under the conditions of the race, Adare Manor will receive a five-pound sex allowance and carry 119 Saturday, while her eight male rivals all must pack 124.

The 'other' Baffert horse in the Classic will be Reincarnate, runner-up in his last two races, the G2 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on Memorial Day and the G3 Cougar II at Del Mar last month.

"He's doing great, he's good," Baffert notes. "You can throw out that last race. He just didn't run his race. He always shows up and he runs hard."

Reincarnate has fired bullets in his last two works on the Del Mar main track.

Dr. Venkman is expected to give Adare Manor plenty to handle on Saturday. The son of Ghostzapper won the G2 San Diego Handicap, the local prep for the Pacific Classic. It was his first race around two turns after opening a lot of eyes with some impressive sprint races.

Seen as the chief threat to the mare is the recent San Diego Handicap winner Dr. Venkman, who is owned by the partnership of Agnew, Bunch or Coehn, et al. The Mark Glatt trainee will be ridden by Antonio Fresu and is listed at 5/2 on the morning line.

"You want to work your way up to a route," trainer Mark Glatt says. "He was certainly very effective sprinting and you're always a little bit on edge to make a change if they're running so well, which he had done early on in his career. We always thought after this layoff, the sooner we got him going farther the better he might get. I think we kind of proved that in the San Diego. We'll see if the mile and a quarter is within his wheel house. I think it will be."

Dr. Venkman will break from the number three post position.

"I would have rather have drawn a little farther outside," Glatt concedes. "It's not the one. Antonio (Fresu) will just have to figure out a trip."

Dr. Venkman has five lifetime starts and finished first or second in all five.

The FanDuel Pacific Classic will go as Race 10 on the program with a post time of approximately 6:05 p.m.

The race received a last-minute supplemental entry (at a cost of $15,000) when the 6-year-old horse There Goes Harvard was a last-minute nominations by his new owners, Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred and Gary Barber. The chestnut by Will Take Charge did win the Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita two years ago as his best recommendation, but has only run four times in the past two years.

GROUP OF EIGHT PUT IN FINAL WORKS SATURDAY FOR PACIFIC CLASSIC

August 24 - A busy morning on the track training for G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic nominees. Eight potential participants took to the main track and put in final works for the big race coming up next Saturday, August 31.

Trainer Bob Baffert brought out his trio of runners. Adare Manor worked six furlongs in 1:12.40.

"She went well," Baffert said afterward. "I always said I was going to leave the door open so I nominated her to give me options. I nominate in a lot of places, it doesn't mean I'm going to run. But if you're nominated you can get an idea of how the races shape up, how horses are doing.

"We'll see how they are tomorrow," Baffert continues. "I'll have to have a pow-wow with the clients and then decide what we're going to do."

Baffert also worked Muth, who went five furlongs in a bullet :58.40 and Reincarnate, who breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20.

Trainer Doug O'Neill had his pair of Pacific Classic runners on the track. Katonah worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 and Mixto went the five furlongs in 1:00.40.

"Both went great," O'Neill commented afterwards. "Mixto hasn't run in a while so we worked him out of the gate. He jumped great, worked super and galloped out well. I'm very happy with him. He's coming into it good.

"Katonah is fit and ready coming back," O'Neill continues. "Just did a maintenance work with him. Tiago (jockey Pereira) was on him and was very happy. Strong and ready to go. He just ran great in the San Diego and if he can move up a bit, he's got a good shot. "

Dr. Venkman worked five furlongs in 1:01.80. Trainer Mark Glatt said he was happy with the work and confirmed the San Diego Handicap winner is heading to the Pacific Classic.

Express Train was also out in the morning, working five furlongs in :59.40. Trainer John Shirreffs was waiting for him to cool out before making a definite decision about running in the Classic but he said the horse is doing "very well."

Full Serrano worked six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.40 for trainer John Sadler, who said they'll wait until tomorrow morning and see how the horse comes out of his work before deciding whether or not to commit to running in the Classic.

Midnight Mammoth, the winner of the G3 Cougar II for trainer Craig Dollase, is expected to put in his final work tomorrow.

None Above the Law worked Friday going 5-furlongs in :59.20.

"He's getting better and better," trainer Jorge Periban insists. "He's different in many ways. He's more happy, he's stronger and he works on his own. We never ask him. He went 59 and one and I don't like (real fast works) but he did it by himself."

The field of nominees is down to 11 after trainer Steve Knapp decided not to run Clooney. Meanwhile the invader, Il Miracolo, is expected to arrive at Del Mar this afternoon.

Entries for the G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic will be drawn Tuesday afternoon at the Brigantine Restaurant in Del Mar.

ADARE MANOR, MUTH AMONG 12 NOMINEES FOR THE PACIFIC CLASSIC

August 23 - Nominations for the 34th running of the G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic closed at midnight and 12 horses have been nominated to the $1 million race with two big surprises now in the mix.

Trainer Bob Baffert has nominated his mare, Adair Manor, to the Classic, one of three nominees from the Baffert barn. Adare Manor was a dominating winner of the G1 Clement Hirsch earlier this month.

Baffert also has nominated his star colt, Muth, winner of the G1 Arkansas Derby back on March 30. The son of Good Magic hasn't raced since. He was being pointed to the second jewel in the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, but got sick and had to be scratched. Muth is also nominated for the $125,000 Shared Belief at a mile on Sunday September 1.

Reincarnate is the third Baffert nominee to the Pacific Classic. He was runner-up in the G3 Cougar II at Del Mar last month and runner-up in the G2 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita before that. Also a son of Good Magic, he was a Derby horse last year, finishing 13th in the Run for the Roses.

The top three finishers in the local prep for the Classic, the G2 San Diego Handicap are on the nominees' list. Dr. Venkman won the race, his first around two turns. The son of Ghostzapper hails from the Mark Glatt barn. Katonah was a late-charging second in the San Diego in his first race back in over a year, followed by Express Train, a hard-knocking veteran of the handicap division who has run twice in the Pacific Classic, in 2021 when he finished sixth and in 2022 when he finished fourth behind Flightline.

Trainer Doug O'Neill has nominated a pair of challengers for the Pacific Classic. In addition to Katonah, he's added Mixto, last out runner-up in the Pleasanton Mile.

Also on the list of nominees is G3 Cougar II winner Midnight Mammoth; Full Serrano, an impressive winner of an entry-level allowance race at Del Mar earlier this month; None Above the Law, the top 3-year old of the 2021 summer meet at Del Mar, and Clooney, who was running for a $20,000 claiming tag in May.

The lone outsider is Il Miracolo, a 4-year-old son of Gun Runner from the Antonio Sano barn in Florida. He ran seventh in the Belmont Stakes last year and most recently finished second to Subsanador in the G3 Philip Iselin at Monmouth Park last week.

Entries for the G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic will be drawn Tuesday afternoon at the Brigantine Restaurant in Del Mar. The race is part of a sensational card with five graded stakes on Saturday, August 31.

PACIFIC CLASSIC FIELD BEGINS TO COME INTO FOCUS

August 18 - The G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic is less than two weeks away and it's beginning to take shape. Five horses are being pointed to the race while a few others are still up in the air.

The top three finishers in last month's G2 San Diego are expected back for the Pacific Classic. Dr. Venkman stretched out around two turns for the first time in the San Diego and proved too tough to catch.

The 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper worked Saturday at Del Mar, breezing six furlongs in 1:12.40 on the main track. It was second best of 12 works at the distance.

The runner-up in the San Diego, Katonah, also worked six furlongs Saturday, stopping the clock at 1:12.60. He had not run in over a year when he raced last month in the San Diego and the Classic will be his second time following the layoff.

"He's doing great," trainer Doug O'Neill says. "He'll have one more work and if all goes well he'll be ready to rock 'n roll."

The third-place finisher in the San Diego was Express Train and he's under consideration for the Pacific Classic. Trainer John Shirreffs sent out the son of Union Rags on Friday, working him six furlongs in 1:13.00. He's another one coming back from a long vacaton and the Classic would be his third race after the layoff.

Midnight Mammoth is another pointing to the Pacific Classic. The winner of the G3 Cougar II has won three straight. Trainer Craig Dollase worked the 5-year old son of Midnight Lute six furlongs in 1:13.20 Saturday.

"He's doing good since the work," Dollase says. "He'll breeze one more time next weekend."

The newest names to emerge as possible contenders in the Pacific Classic are Mixto, a 4-year-old son of Good Magic, who also hails from the Doug O'Neill barn and None Above the Law, the 2021 G2 Del Mar Derby winner.

"He's a nice solid horse," O'Neill says of Mixto. "He's coming off a second in the Pleasanton Mile and a fifth in the Santa Anita Handicap. He's down here training well and if he continues to do well, (the Pacific Classic) is definitely a strong option."

None Above the Law broke out of a long drought when he captured the $100,000 Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos in June, his first victory since his Del Mar Derby win 33 months and 19 races ago. The 6-year-old Cal-bred worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Thursday.

"He did it on his own, we never pushed the horse," trainer Jorge Periban says. "He's sound. He's changed a lot, he's a lot different."

Periban says None Above the Law will get one more work before the Classic.

Trainer John Sadler worked his Argentine-bred Full Serrano on Sunday.

"Went really well," Sadler notes. "Went a minute, out :25 and three. We'll see how he does next weekend then we'll make a decision on the Pacific Classic after that."

A few Bob Baffert horses have been mentioned as possible runners in the Classic. However, any talk of Baffert sending a horse to the Classic is pure speculation at this point. Arabian Knight worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 Saturday, his second work since his fourth-place finish in the San Diego. Reincarnate worked a bullet five furlongs in :59.60.

There is still hope one or two horses from out-of-town will ship in for the big race continuing the trend of invaders coming to Del Mar this summer to get in a race on the track where they will run the Breeders' Cup in November.

The 34th running of the $1 million, G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic is set for August 31, part of a five-stakes day at Del Mar. Nominations will close Thursday.

2024 PACIFIC CLASSIC PREP INTENSIFIES

August 11 - The G1 Pacific Classic is three weeks away and many of the horses gearing up for the big race showed up on the worktab this week. Meanwhile, one of the horses mentioned as a possible participant has been shipped back east and the defending champion is a huge question mark.

Subsanador, one of two Argentine-breds thought to be headed to the Pacific Classic, will instead run in the G3 Iselin at Monmouth Park next Saturday. That's according to trainer Richard Mandella.

And Arabian Knight is no longer a 'definite' to defend his crown on August 31. Last year's Pacific Classic winner finished fourth in his 2024 debut in the G2 San Diego last month.

"He's doing fine," trainer Bob Baffert says, "but I don't know what I'm going to run in the Pacific Classic."

Parenting, Newgate and Reincarnate, all from the Baffert barn, have been mentioned as possible runners in the Pacific Classic. Reincarnate was runner-up to Midnight Mammoth in the G3 Cougar II. The son of Good Magic put in a five-furlong work Saturday, stopping the clock at 1:01.4.

Newgate hasn't raced since returning from the Middle East where he ran ninth in the Dubai World Cup. He returned to the work tab Friday, posting a three-furlong bullet in :36.40, the best of eight works at the distance.

Parenting, a 3-year-old son of Justify, is undefeated after three career starts. He won the $100,000 Affirmed at Santa Anita in June. Then he got sick prior to shipping back east where he was supposed to start in the G1 Haskell at Monmouth Park. He rebounded nicely winning a second level allowance at Del Mar at the end of last month (7-28).

Other 'probables' for Del Mar's marquee race of the summer meet all put in works this week.

Dr. Venkman worked Saturday on the main track going four furlongs in :47.60, ninth best of 92 workers at that distance. It was his first work since his victory in the G2 San Diego last month. Trainer Mark Glatt indicated he was pleased with the work and is pointing to the Pacific Classic.

Katonah, runner-up in the San Diego, is also being pointed to the big race. He put in his first work since the San Diego on Saturday going four furlongs in :47.40, sixth best of 92 runners at the distance. Trainer Doug O'Neill is very high on this gelding, especially after his strong showing off of a one-year layoff.

Midnight Mammoth is pointing to the Classic off of his victory in the G3 Cougar II. Trainer Craig Dollase worked the son of Midnight Lute on Saturday, going four furlongs in :48.00, 19th best of 92 runners.

Express Train is another probable participant off of his third-place finish in the San Diego, coming from last place to grab third in the closing stages of the race.

"He came out of the race fine," trainer John Shirreffs says, "I thought he ran a credible race and we're looking forward to the next one."

The Pacific Classic would be Express Train's third start off of a year and a half layoff. The son of Union Rags put in his first work since the San Diego, going four furlongs in :51.20 on Friday.

Trainer John Sadler is still uncommitted to running Full Serrano in the Classic. The Argentine-bred gave an impressive performance when he won an entry level allowance at Del Mar last month.

"He came out of the race well," Sadler says. "We'll start to breeze him back next week and look for something here, whether it's that (the Pacific Classic) or not, we haven't decided."

While no horses specifically have been mentioned, officials are hoping they will receive one or two nominations from connections outside of Southern California by the time nominations close a week from Thursday.

The G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic is part of a five stakes day at Del Mar on August 31.

2024 PACIFIC CLASSIC FIELD TAKING SHAPE

August 4 - It is less than a month away from the 34th running of the G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic at Del Mar so it's time to begin our countdown to the big race on August 31.

So far there are eight possible participants in this year's million-dollar test, which will be run at the classic distance of a mile and a quarter on the main track. The race could include the top four finishers in the G2 San Diego Handicap, the winner of the G3 Cougar II, a promising 3-year old colt and a couple of South American imports.

Dr. Venkman had been running in sprint races until trainer Mark Glatt decided to try him at two turns and he won the G2 San Diego, the local prep for the Pacific Classic.

"He bounced back good from the race," Glatt says. "He'll probably breeze a bit over next weekend and we'll see where he's at off of that and take a look at our options." He affirmed that the Pacific Classic is one of those 'options'.

Katonah had not raced in over a year until trainer Doug O'Neill brought him back in the San Diego and he ran a good closing second.

"He's doing great," O'Neill says. "He came out of it (the San Diego) in great shape and we're pointing him to the Pacific Classic. Let's go."

Express Train, a multiple graded stakes winner from the John Shirreffs barn, ran third in the San Diego as he continues his comeback from a 19-month layoff. He's hoping to recapture the form that led to three consecutive graded stakes wins, including the G1 Santa Anita Handicap in 2022.

The Pacific Classic has always been in the plans for last year's winner, Arabian Knight, though a fourth-place finish in the San Diego was not. That being said, it was his first race since his run in the Breeders' Cup last November.

In addition to Arabian Knight, trainer Bob Baffert has also nominated Parenting, a 3-year old colt by Justify, who was being considered for the G1 Haskell at Monmouth Park last month until he spiked a fever and had to be withdrawn. He's better now, evident by his tenacious victory in a second-level allowance race at Del Mar on July 28.

A couple of Argentine imports are being considered for the Pacific Classic. Richard Mandella is thinking of bringing Subsanador who is oh-for-three in the states, including a runner-up finish to Newgate in this year's edition of the G1 Santa Anita Handicap.

John Sadler has Full Serrano preparing in the wings. He ran his first race in the U.S. Saturday, an entry level allowance at Del Mar, and wired the field, setting blazing fractions of :21.58, :44.94 and 1:10.31, and still finishing in front in the one mile on the main track and winning by 2 ¼ lengths.

"We were really thrilled," Sadler says. "Kind of surprised he showed so much speed. He's been running a mile and a quarter in South America so we had no idea he could go that quick early. He drew the one (inside post) so he had to get out and he got rolling and kept going."

When asked about the Classic, Sadler said "it's too early."

Finally, Craig Dollase is considering running G3 Cougar II winner Midnight Mammoth, winner of three races in a row, in the big race.

With the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar in November, there's always the possibility of a shipper or two coming to the seaside oval for the Pacific Classic. The connections for both of the invaders in Saturday's G1 Clement Hirsch indicated one of the reasons and benefits of coming to Del Mar was that their horses got a race over the track before November.

Nominations for the Pacific Classic close on Thursday, August 22 and entries will be drawn on August 27, the Tuesday before the race.

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Pacific Classic Quick Facts

Beholder became the first and only female racehorse to win the race in 2015, when she rolled to a near-record 8 ¼ length win. Just four other fillies have started in the race.

Trainer Bob Baffert has won the race seven times, most recently with Arabian Knight last year.

Jockey Mike Smith has won four editions of the race, tied with the late Garrett Gomez for the most of any rider.

The betting favorite has won the Pacific Classic just eight times, but seven of those times came since 2004.