Del Mar’s signature race, the $1 million Pacific Classic, lured 11 entrants Tuesday at a special post-position draw for Saturday’s 33rd edition of the mile and one-quarter test. Breeders’ Cup Classic aspirants battle in the key west-coast tune-up with 3-year-olds Geaux Rocket Ride and Arabian Knight the top two choices in Jon White’s morning line odds.
The speedy Geaux Rocket Ride exits from post 1 with a long run from the top of the lane to the clubhouse turn at Del Mar. The Grade 1 Haskell winner is the 5-2 ML choice under Mike Smith for trainer Richard Mandella, a Hall of Fame combination. Arabian Knight, third in the Haskell off a six-month layoff, is next at 3-1 from post 9 for Flavien Prat and Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Prat won this race last year aboard Flightline, while Baffert looks to pull clear of the late Bobby Frankel with a record-setting seventh win in this race. He also will have Hollywood Gold Cup winner and Pegasus World Cup runner-up Defunded starting from post 5.
Baffert (7 wins), Mandella (4 wins) and John Sadler (4 wins) – who sends out Tripoli, the 2021 winner of this race – have combined to win 15 Pacific Classics, including 8 of the last 10. With Geaux Rocket Ride potential lone speed in this field on paper, expect the two Baffert entrants, Arabian Knight or Defunded, to keep the leader in close proximity throughout the running. The most dangerous horses with a pace advantage don’t often give back such an edge, meaning this could be a carousel kind of race.
The lineup also includes major meet stakes winners Senor Buscador (post 8), rallying winner of the San Diego, and Order and Law (post 6), 14-1 upsetter of the Cougar II over 12 furlongs. Santa Anita Handicap winner Stilleto Boy (post 3) looks to improve off of last year’s sixth-place Pacific Classic finish.
The balance of the card will be drawn Wednesday.
Grade 1 Pacific Classic // Saturday // Del Mar
#1-Geaux Rocket Ride (Mike Smith // Richard Mandella) 5-2
#2-Katonah (Antonio Fresu // Doug O’Neill) 20-1
#3-Stilleto Boy (Kent Desormeaux // Ed Moger Jr.) 8-1
#4-Tripoli (Tiago Pereira // John Sadler) 20-1
#5-Defunded (Juan Hernandez // Bob Baffert) 4-1
#6-Order and Law (Edwin Maldonado // Bob Hess Jr.) 30-1
#7-Slow Down Andy (Mario Gutierrez // Doug O’Neill) 8-1
#8-Senor Buscador (Geovanni Franco // Todd Fincher ) 10-1
#9-Arabian Knight (Flavien Prat // Bob Baffert) 3-1
#10-Piroli (Umberto Rispoli // Michael McCarthy) 20-1
#11-Skinner (Hector Berrios // John Shirreffs) 10-1
.svg){kind=logo}
