Eight older Thoroughbreds, most of whom aspire to earn a place in Del Mar’s signature race, the Grade I $1 million TVG Pacific Classic on August 22, will line up Saturday in the 74th running of the Grade II $200,000 San Diego Handicap at a mile and one-sixteenth on the main track.
Packing highweight of 123 pounds in the steppingstone to the Pacific Classic will be Kaleem Shah’s Bayern, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November but a disappointment in two races this year. Martin Garcia has the mount for trainer Bob Baffert on the four-year-old Offlee Wild colt.
Bayern’s opposition is comprised of stablemate Hoppertunity, 121 pounds and Mike Smith; Catch a Flight, 120 and Gary Stevens; Majestic City, 118 and Tyler Baze; Sahara Sky, 117 and James Graham; Appealing Tale, 116 and Joe Talamo; Nowalking, 115 and Tiago Pereira, and Sammy Mandeville, also 115 and Rafael Bejarano.
Hoppertunity was beaten a nose by Hard Aces in the recent Gold Cup at Santa Anita, with Catch a Flight third as the 8-5 favorite and Majestic City seventh at 26-1.
Saturday’s supporting feature is the $200,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for California-bred three-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. Entrants are Patsy G and Me, Big Book, Sheer Pleasure, Missy Mouse, Ashley’s Sassy, Kiss at Midnight and Abets Abet.
Post time for the first of ten races Saturday is 2 p.m.