Higher Power © Benoit Photo

HIGHER POWER, MAXIMUM SECURITY WORK TO KICK OFF CLASSIC WEEK

Defending champion Higher Power and Maximum Security, the No. 1 ranked Thoroughbred in North America, put in their final workouts for an anticipated showdown in next Saturday’s 30^th running of the signature event of the Del Mar meeting – the Grade I, $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic.

Higher Power was officially timed in 1:12.80 for six furlongs in his fourth workout over the Del Mar track since the start of the meet and third since a third-place finish to Maximum Security, beaten 6 ¼ lengths, in the Grade II, $150,000 San Diego Handicap on July 25.

In his fifth work here since July 11, and third since the San Diego Handicap, Maximum security drilled seven furlongs in 1:25.40.

“We’re quite pleased,” trainer John Sadler said of the exercise, with assistant trainer and exercise rider Juan Leyva in the irons, for Higher Power. “It was a normal kind of last work. Not too fast. Just what you’d want.”

Higher Power was positioned outside workmate St. Joe Bay and had interim fractions of :36.20 and 1:00.20 on the way to his final clocking, which was only two-tenths of a second from the best of seven at the distance.

Maximum Security, with exercise rider Juan Ochoa up, worked outside stablemate McKale with interim clockings of :48.60 and 1:00, getting up to edge in front at the wire and then galloping out by himself around the clubhouse turn to the three-quarter pole. McKale was timed in 1:01.40 for five furlongs.

“I’m very happy with the breeze; he’s right on target for the race,” Baffert said.

Adding a touch of international intrigue to the Classic is the entry of Mirinaque, an import from Argentina for owner/trainer Maria Cristina Munoz.

A 4-year-old son of Hurricane Cat and grandson of Storm Cat, Mirinaque raced three times in Argentina, all in Group I events, between November of 2019 and March of this year. The gray/roan runner won his debut and was second in the subsequent two.

The entry of Mirinaque represents the realization of a dream for Munoz, 44, according to information provided by Del Mar-based trainer Carlos Lopez, interpreting from Spanish for Munoz.

“She came here before to see the Pacific Classic and decided that one day she wanted to have a horse in the race,” Lopez said. “After many years, that dream is coming true.”

Munoz, who started her training career in 1997, was well aware of the Pacific Classic wins by Gentlemen (1997) and Candy Ride (2003) and took in the spectacle of the day in 2013 when Game On Dude provided Bob Baffert with the fourth of his five Classic wins.

Munoz comes from a racing family. Her grandfather and father were prominent trainers at the San Isidro track where Mirinaque made his last two starts. Her mother was a jockey.

Mirinaque will complete the last of five Del Mar workouts leading up to the Classic with a specially-arranged afternoon exercise today with Tiago Pereira aboard. Pereira has the call for the Classic.

The field, from the rail out with riders and morning line odds: Midcourt (Victor Espinoza, 7-2); Higher Power (Flavien Prat, 3-1); Mirinaque (10-1); Dark Vader (Umberto Rispoli, 12-1),  Maximum Security (Abel Cedillo, 1-1), and Sharp Samurai (Juan Hernandez, 8-1).

FOUR OTHER STAKES WILL MAKE FOR A CLASSY CLASSIC SATURDAY

In addition to the $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic, there are four other stakes races, with combined purses totaling $650,000, on the 11-race card for Saturday that officials were putting together this morning.

A capsule look at the expected entrants and overview in order of grading and purse size.

Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Oaks, 1 1/8 miles on the turf, 3-year-old fillies.

Expected: Applecross, Croughavouke, Guitty, Laura’s Light, Neige Blanche, Parkour, Shines Her Light, Trickle In, Warren’s Showtime.

Overview: The 1-2-3 finishers from the stepping stone July 25 San Clemente Stakes – Laura’s Light, Guitty and Warren’s Showtime – are all back looking to put a Grade I mark on the resume. There is also a wild card to be dealt with in Neige Blanche, a recent import from France making her U.S. debut for trainer Leonard Powell.

Grade II, $200,000 Del Mar Handicap, 1 3/8 miles on the turf, 3 year olds and up. Sponsored by the Japan Racing Association.

Expected: Another Mystery, Combatant, Kiwi’s Dream, Originaire, Oscar Dominguez, Proud Pedro, Red King, United, Ward ‘n Jerry.

Overview: Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella thought about putting Eddie Read Stakes winner United on dirt for the Classic, realized the Classic purse had been lowered from $1 million to $500,000, and called an audible on that play. The Handicap being a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, the ultimate goal and a race where United finished second in 2019, Mandella considered a more prudent choice. The others have United to beat.

Grade III, $100,000 Torrey Pines, 3-year-old fillies, one mile, main track.

Expected: Aurelia Garland, Happier, Harvest Moon, Secret Keeper, Storie Blue.

Overview: A group of lightly-raced fillies whose careers may have started somewhat late but, once begun, have shown considerable promise.

Grade III, $100,000 Green Flash Handicap, 3-year-olds and up, 5 furlongs on the turf.

Expected: Baja Sur, Brandothebartender, Chaos Theory, Mesut, Mikes Tiznow, Sparky Ville, Wildman Jack.

Overview: Mikes Tiznow ships in from Golden Gate Fields having won three straight and four of his last five starts. Wildman Jack has been facing tougher opposition, most recently in the Grade I Bing Crosby on August 1.

EIGHT TO GO IN FRIDAY’S RANCHO BERNARDO

A field of eight was entered Saturday for Friday’s $100,000, Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap. The 6 ½-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares is the first of seven graded stakes events over the upcoming three-day TVG Pacific Classic weekend.

Sneaking Out, bred and owned by KMN Racing and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, is high weighted at 123, which is 3-to-5 pounds more than her rivals. The 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Indian Evening comes in off a victory in the Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 4 in which she held off Bellafina and prevailed by three-quarters of a length.

The field from the rail with riders: Gingham (Mike Smith); Into Chocolate (Abel Cedillo); Mother of Dragons (Ruben Gonzalez); Artistic Diva (Ruben Fuentes); Sneaking Out (Umberto Rispoli); Amuse (Drayden Van Dyke); Mucho Amor (Juan Hernandez), and Unique Factor (Flavien Prat).

CLOSERS – Clockers were kept busy with 248 workers this morning, 209 on dirt and 39 on turf. Selected works: Dirt -- Ce Ce (4f, :47.40), Fighting Mad (4f, :49.80), Blitzkreig (5f, 1:01.20), McKale (5f, 1:01.40), McKinzie (5f, 1:00.40), Mo Forza (5f, :59.60), Overdue (5f, :58.00); Turf – Bowie’s Hero (4f, :47.40), Red King (5f, 1:00.00) … A reminder that Del Mar’s “Pacific Classic Betting Challenge” next Saturday is open now for entrants at DMTC.com/PCBC. The on-line competition offers $150,000 in total prizes.

Del Mar Statistics

Presented by Torrey Hollistics

Jockey Standings

(Current Through August 15, 2020 Inclusive)   

Trainer Standings

(Current Through August 15, 2020 Inclusive) 

Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through August 15, 2020 Inclusive)

Winning favorites -- 50 out of 157 -- 31.85%
Winning favorites on dirt -- 30 out of 86 -- 34.88%
Winning favorites on turf -- 20 out of 71 -- 28.17%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 14 out of 26 -- 53.85%
In-the-Money favorites -- 100 out of 157 -- 63.69%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 25 out of 26 -- 96.15%