Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar has always been a day to circle on your calendar as it is arguably the best day of racing each year when the Breeders’ Cup is not in California.
And even though the luster of California racing has been down the last couple years, it still promises to be a fun day to watch and wager.
There are two Grade I and two Grade II races on the Saturday slate at the track where the turf meets the surf.
Del Mar
Grade II Green Flash Handicap
(5th race, 4 p.m.)
Man O Rose (Jeff Mullins, Edwin Maldonado) has three starts this year, has won two of them and was third in the other. All three have been stake races but this is the first graded race. The last start was March 22 in the Sensational Street at Santa Anita where he was third. He’s been off since then but has put together a nice series of works for the return. He pushed the pace for most of his last race until getting passed by one in the lane. The first two starts this year were wins, giving him five straight at the time.
Sumter (Richard Mandella, Mike Smith) has five starts this year, with two wins and second. After running second in the Grade III Daytona on the turf June 13 at Santa Anita, he jumped on to the main track at Del Mar in a $100,000 optional claimer and got the win with a strong close. The horse was eighth in this race last year, brushing early and bumping late.
Motorious (Phil D’Amato, Antonio Fresu) was second in his lone start this year, losing almost a length to Sumter in a $100,000 optional claimer July 19 at Del Mar. It was his first start since December 29. He won this race two years ago and was second last year. He’s a closer and he will get some pace to run at here.
Sorrento Sky (Phil D’Amato, Umberto Rispoli) came off a break to run third to Sumter and Motorious in the July 19 optional claimer. He was just one length back of the winner and just a neck out of second. If you like the first two finishers, then you have to look at this one as well. Another runner that prefers to track the speed from near the back, then charge home.
Grade I Del Mar Oaks
(9th race, 6 p.m.)
There are 10, 3-year-old fillies entered here to go 1-1/8-miles on the turf, starting out of the turf chute.
Victorious Dream (Michael McCarthy, Juan Hernandez) has five starts this season and has hit the board in all five with two wins, two seconds, and a third. The first win came two back against straight maidens on May 10 at Santa Anita. She went to the shelf until July 17 where she took down win No. 2 in an $80,000 optional claimer at Del Mar. It is a big step up here, but recent form could make her a contender.
Tam Tam (Philip Bauer, Junior Alvarado) ships to California for the first time after putting together a nice year at Gulfstream and Churchill Downs. In her last start on June 27 she won the Tepin by five lengths at Churchill. She has two graded stake races under her belt this year, finishing second by a head in the Grade II Edgewood on May 1, then third in the Grade III Regret on May 30, also at Churchill. She has shown speed and has also shown desire to stalk the pace. I am guessing she takes what is given to her.
Inbox (Richard Baltas, Armando Ayuso) is a deep closer with a win and a second in three starts this year. The most recent start was July 18 in the Grade II San Clemente at Del Mar where she charged home to finish second. The lone question here is will she get enough pace to chase.
Kensington Lane (Phil D’Amato, Joel Rosario) shipped over from Ireland and won at first asking in the Grade I Belmont Oaks at Saratoga on July 4. She broke fourth that day but took the lead shortly thereafter and never gave it back at 23/1. Now she ships across the United States for her second start in the United States. She has been here a while and has had a series of works over the Del Mar surface.
Grade I Pacific Classic
(10th race, 6:30 p.m.)
The race may not be as deep as in some years but there’s an argument that one of the hottest older horses in the country is in the field.
Knightsbridge (Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado) was an absolute monster in his last start, the Grade III Monmouth Cup on July 18. The day he wired the field, building the lead throughout, winning by over 10 lengths and earning a Beyer of 122. Before then he was second in the Grade I Met Mile at Saratoga on June 6, getting a 102 Beyer.
Forged Steel (Saffie Joseph, Edwin Gonzalez) is speed horse that faded badly in his last start, the Grade II Suburban at Saratoga on July 4. Two back was his best start when he went wire to wire to win the Grade II Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 25, winning by over nine lengths and getting a 102 Beyer at 3/1. Has shown the desire to be on or near the lead in all his starts with few exceptions.
Navajo Warrior (Saffie Joseph, Micah Husbands) has won his last two starts, both of which were Grade III events. Two back it was the Pimlico Special at Laurel Park where he wired the field and won by two lengths, getting a 101 Beyer. The most recent was at Prairie Meadows where he again wired the field in the Cornhusker Handicap, winning by over three lengths and got as 106 Beyer. He might be the speed of the speed and there’s no doubt he will be sending when the gate opens.
Grade II Del Mar Mile
(11th race, 7 p.m.)
This is for 3-year-olds and up going one mile on the Del Mar turf course. It’s not the most loaded field I have seen but there could be a good value play or two here.
Detain (Michael McCarthy, Juan Hernandez) makes his third start in the United States after shipping over from Great Britain. The two starts were both optional claimers but both were good runs. The first came June 7 at Santa Anita where he was third in an $80,000 optional claimer, getting an 89 Beyer. He came back July 17 at Del Mar in a $100,000 optional claimer, coming from well back to win by almost two lengths. His works have been pedestrian, but I trust the barn that he will be ready.
Almendares (Phil D’Amato, Antonio Fresu) has five starts this year and has hit the board in four, with all the starts coming in graded races. His last start was the Grade II Eddie Read on July26 at Del Mar. He had all kinds of problems, hitting the rail, as well as bumping and he finished sixth, still getting a 94 Beyer. Three back he won the Grade III American on April 18 at Santa Anita and two back he was second in the Grade I Shoemaker, coming from well back. Always a closer, there will be a pace to chase here.
El Potente (Dan Blacker, Hector Berrios) won the Grade III Thunder Road on February 7 two back at Santa Anita, then was second in the Grade II Kilroe on March 7, also at Santa Anita. He has been off since then but has been working strong and consistently for the return. One of my two potential value plays.
Twirling Point (Blaine Wright, Ricky Gonzalez) is my top value play coming off a second in the Wickerrsham on July 19 at 31/1. Before then he did struggle in the Grade III American and the Grade 1 Shoemaker at 67/1 and 35/1, but the barn is capable and I have cashed tickets before when the jockey has brought in a horse at over 35/1.
By Dennis Miller