Following the Classic Path

The Breeders’ Cup Classic field is filling up fast!  Who will earn the next berth?  We will find out this coming Saturday following the great Pacific Classic Stakes.  After the 2016 edition, when California Chrome won, the Pacific Classic will always be a favorite stakes race of mine.  Does this stakes hold a special memory for you or will you have a new found interest after this 2018 running?

The 28th running of the Grade 1, $1 million dollar, TVG Pacific Classic will post Saturday, 8/18 about 5:40 PM PT (8:40PM ET).  The race is 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) on the dirt “Where the Surf Meets the Turf”,  Del Mar Racetrack, in Del Mar, CA.  This stakes is for thoroughbreds age 3 and upwards.  The Pacific Classic was first raced in 1991.  It has some record winners that are dear to me.  Candy Ride, a favorite sire that my friends like to bet at Keeneland, holds the time record at 1:59.11 minutes.  Game on Dude who is tied for the most times a horse has started in the Pacific Classic (4 times) holds the margin in lengths record at 8 and 1/2 miles.  That is just slightly better than Beholder’s win of 8 1/4 lengths and she is the lone filly to win.

The winner of the Pacific Classic will receive an automatic berth into the G1, $6 million dollar, 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic to be hosted at Churchill Downs on 11/3.  Several thoroughbreds are already listed as contenders into the field that will be capped at 14.  Seven horses will enter from berths in the BC Challenge races and points system and the other half from nominations by an expert panel. The current contenders are as follows (including the BC Challenge race they won when applicable) :

• Accelerate
• Bravazo
• Catalina Cruiser
• Collected
• Diversify – Whitney Stakes
• Good Magic
• Gunnevera – Haskell Invitational
• McKinzie
• Mendelssohn
• Mind Your Biscuits
• Pavel – Stephen Foster Handicap
• Tenfold
• Thunder Snow
• Toast Of New York
• West Coast

This is a long list of talent.  I am on edge waiting to see which of the 8 horses selected from the 15 thoroughbreds nominated for the Pacific Classic will have what it takes to win this BC Challenge race. Here are the contenders for the 2018 Pacific Classic by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning-line odds:

1. The Lieutenant/Flavien Prat/Michael McCarthy/Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Warren, Jr./6-1
2. Dr. Dorr/Joe Talamo/Bob Baffert/Natalie J. Baffert/6-1
3. Prime Attraction/Kent Desormeaux/James Cassidy/DP Racing/8-1
4. Roman Rosso/Drayden Van Dyke/Bob Baffert/Zaur Bifov/5-1
5. Accelerate/Joel Rosario/John Sadler/Hronis Racing/8-5
6. Beach View/Rafael Bejarano/Leonard Powell/Levy Racing/15-1
7. Pavel/Mario Gutierrez/Doug O’Neill/Reddam Racing/7-2
8. Two Thirty Five/Franklin Ceballos/Richard Baltas/Slam Dunk Racing, Mansor, Nielson et al/20-1

If a Baffert trained horse wins, Baffert will tie with Robert J. Frankel for the most Pacific Classic wins, a total of 6.  There are 11 races on Saturday’s card.  Gates open at 11:30 A.M. PT, with race 1 posting at 2 P.M. PT.  The G1 Del Mar Oaks and the G2 Del Mar Handicap race the same day there.  The Pacific Classic is race 8.  Though NBC and NBCSN often cover BC Challenge races, this race is sponsored by TVG.  Therefore, look to TVG to cover racing at Del Mar on Saturday starting at 2 P.M. PT(5 P.M. ET).