Mixto © Benoit Photo
PACIFIC CLASSIC DAY STAKES WINNERS SET SIGHTS ON BREEDERS’ CUP
The day after the big day you’ll find the stable area at Del Mar back to work, going through the same routines with the horses that they do every day. Some of the winners are moving a little slower than usual but that’s understandable. It’s hard to sleep after a big win. But, by all reports, all of the winning horses and runner-ups appear to have returned in good order and now it’s time to look to the future.
Trainer Doug O’Neill was back at it, inspecting the horses he would send out to work or gallop this morning. He was the big winner yesterday scoring a 22-1 upset in the G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic with Mixto. The Classic was considered a wide-open affair after the scratch of the mare Adare Manor and so when it produced a longshot winner no one seemed surprised.
“We thought the five (Katonah) probably had the best chance of the two,” O’Neill admits. “But as the race unfolded, Kyle (Frey) had Mixto in the perfect spot and he just ran lights out.”
O’Neill says both of his horses came out of the race in good shape. “Paradise” he described it. It’s not every day you get a horse coming out of the Pleasanton Mile in the Pacific Classic, let alone winning it. But O’Neill thought highly of the 4-year-old son of Good Magic.
“He gave us a few hints of being a special horse but today he really validated the horse he is,” O’Neill said Saturday. “When you look at his PP’s, he’s run in a lot of different places and he’s always been surrounding them and today it just unfolded perfectly and Kyle Frey just rode a perfect race.”
Frey had a huge day, winning the Classic and the G2 Del Mar Handicap, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Del Mar. Frey rallied Gold Phoenix up the rail and edged Dicey Mo Chara on the wire to make history. Gold Phoenix scored his third ‘Handicap’ in three straight years, a feat that’s never been done in the marathon turf event.
“Hats off to my groom, my exercise riders, and my assistants,” trainer Phil D’Amato said afterward. “It’s a total team effort to get this horse to do what he’s done three years in a row. It’s a lot of hard work and it’s very rewarding when you get results like this.”
Gold Phoenix did it with three different jockeys: Flavien Prat in 2022; Juan Hernandez last year, and Kyle Frey this year.
“I think a big key to this is us doing right by the horse every year,” D’Amato stated. “After Breeders’ Cup we give him a nice couple of months off and I think that prepares him to be prime when Breeders’ Cup comes around again. Good horses like this, that are Breeders’ Cup type horses, run six or seven times a year at the most and we save him for the big dance at the end of the year.”
D’Amato says Gold Phoenix came out of the race in good shape. He says he’s not sure yet whether he will run the 6-year old gelding again before the Breeders’ Cup.
“We just kind of take them as individuals,” D’Amato says. “That’s the best way to do it. Some we can fit in a prep race and some we just sit on them until the Breeders’ Cup.”
The Del Mar Handicap was the first of three grade stakes victories for D’Amato on Pacific Classic Day. His next visit to the winners circle came four races later when Motorious came flying late to win the G3 Green Flash for the second year in a row.
“He trained very well,” D’Amato said. “He trained well going into his other previous spots. I just think he got the setup and the turf course he likes today.”
The Green Flash is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, a race D’Amato won his first and only Breeders’ Cup race in with Obviously in 2016 with the same owner, Tony Fanticola.
“He’s been with me from the very beginning,” D’Amato notes. “The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint has been very good to us so hopefully it will be good this year.”
Chances made even sweeter when you consider the Breeders’ Cup will be at Del Mar and how much Motorious like this turf course.
“I think it helps a lot,” D’Amato insists. “Especially the way he won today. I just think he gets a better grip. He just showed he has an affinity for this turf course.”
D’Amato scored the hat trick in the nightcap, winning the G2 Del Mar Mile with Conclude, who took them wire-to-wire.
“The horse likes to be up there close and I left it up to Hector (Berrios),” D’Amato said Saturday. “He broke bad last time. We did a little gate schooling with him and he broke like a rocket today and Hector nursed him along beautifully and got the job done.”
The stakes racing started with a coming out of sorts for the 3-year-old filly Hope Road, who took command of the race on the far turn and cruised home ahead of her stablemate, Santa Anita Oaks winner Nothing Like You, to win the G3 Torrey Pines. Trainer Bob Baffert finishing one-two.
“We just let Juan (Hernandez) do what he wants,” Baffert said. “He knows the filly. First out she was really aggressive. Second out he said she was relaxed. So when the leader made that big bold move he let her have it.
“I didn’t have her as a 2-year-old,” Baffert continues. “When I started working her I said ‘Wow, she’s really good.’”
Baffert says both of his fillies came out of the race in good order. He says he doesn’t know yet where he will race Hope Road next. “We’ll just enjoy this one.”
PACIFIC CLASSIC WRAP-UP
The runner-up in the G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic was resting comfortably in his stall Sunday morning. Full Serrano set the pace in the 1 ¼ mile race, leading every step of the way until the final strides.
“We’re really proud of his effort,” trainer John Sadler said. “His second start in the country, a very strong race so we’re thrilled with his race.”
Mixto, the winner of the 34th running of the Pacific Classic, delivered the fifth highest payoff in the race history. At 22-1, he paid $46.40. Dare and Go’s victory over Cigar in the 1996 running is still the highest at $81.20 followed by Missionary Ridge in 1992 - $51.00; Richard’s Kid in 2009 - $50.80, and Student Council in 2007 - $48.80.
CAL BRED JUVENILE FILLIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN GENEROUS PORTION
Next weekend, the top 2-year-olds on the West Coast will be on display but before we get to that, top 2-year-old Cal-breds get the spotlight in the $100,000 Generous Portion for juvenile fillies at Del Mar Monday.
The top three finishers in the C.T.B.A Stakes are back for the Generous Portion. The winner, In the Air Tonight, finished 5 ¼ lengths to the best of the runner-up, Thirsty Mama, and another 2 ½ back to the third-place finisher, Thirsty in Vegas. Steve Knapp trains the first- and third-place finishers.
“She seems to be improving all the time,” Knapp says about In the Air Tonight. “I think the extra distance is going to be just fine for her. It would have been nice if we hadn’t drawn the one hole, but that’s the way it goes.”
Common consensus tells you if you’re in the one hole in a sprint race it’s best to send them, to get out of there as quick as possible.
“She got left in the gate last time is why she was so far back,” Knapp contends. “She had her head turned and they opened the gate so she was a little farther back than we like but they’re going to go fast in this race early.”
Thirsty in Vegas was up on the pace and gave way when confronted by her stablemate in mid-stretch.
“I think she’s going to run a better race than she ran in the C.T.B.A,” Knapp states. “I missed some time with her with an infection in her leg but now she’s training really well.”
Like Knapp’s horses, Thirsty Mama is also a daughter of Stay Thirsty. She broke her maiden at Santa Anita in June before her runner-up finish in the C.T.B.A last out.
Cayucos is expected to be one of those up on the lead. She broke her maiden at first asking, going wire-to-wire at Del Mar last month. She’s a daughter of Omaha Beach.
“That has special meaning,” says trainer Richard Mandella who trained Omaha Beach during his brief but impressive career. “They can go short or long. We’ve been happy with the breed. I wish we had more of them.”
Hot Girl Walk tangled with Cayucos inher debut race at Del Mar and came up second best
“Mandella’s horse was highly touted,” trainer Carla Gaines says. “Somebody told me she outworked Ruby Nell. Cayucos had the one hole and broke well and went around the track like a rat in a barrel. Just didn’t have any interference. We broke slowly, got caught wide around the turn and couldn’t catch her. That filly could probably run in open company.”
Hot Girl Walk returned in three weeks and aired.
“We loved her the second time for sure and she didn’t fail us,” trainer Carla Gaines recalls. “It’s a thing like you’re here, they’re doing well. Do I like running a 2-year-old back every three weeks, no. But we’re going to strike while the iron’s hot.”
It was Hot Girl Walk’s work immediately following the maiden score that opened a lot of eyes.
“It was a beautiful work,” Gaines notes. “There were four or five horses in front of her and she broke off about five lengths back. She was going to have a comfortable breeze by herself but she got focused on catching those horses and she passed everyone. Then galloping out, something came up along her side and she took off again.”
Hot Girl Walk stopped the clock at 46 and four for four furlongs, the fastest of 106 other works that day.
The 32nd running of the Generous Portion is the fifth race on the 11-race holiday program. It’s the last of this weekend’s nine stakes races. Probable post time is 3:30 p.m.
Here’s the field from the rail with the jockeys and the morning line odds: In the Air Tonight (Tiago Pereira, 7/5); Thirsty in Vegas (Tyler Baze, 12-1); Thirsty Mama (Juan Hernandez, 10-1); Cayucos (Kyle Frey, 6/5); Hot Girl Walk (Antonio Fresu, 5-1), and Nostri Vires (Joe Talamo, 20-1).
BAFFERT, D’AMATO SQUARE OFF IN TRANQUILITY LAKE MONDAY
Monday’s holiday card at Del Mar features a pair of stakes races beginning with the $100,000 Tranquility Lake. A six-pack of fillies and mares will contest the one mile on the main track and once again it pits two of Del Mar’s top trainers, Phil D’Amato and Bob Baffert, against each other.
The Argentine-bred Super Shine, from the D’Amato barn, first came to the U.S. earlier this year after winning a couple of Group 2 races down in her native country. In her first race stateside, she missed winning by a neck to Coffee in Bed in the G2 Santa Maria. In her next two races she ran into Adare Manor in the G2 Santa Margarita and then Sweet Azteca in the G2 Great Lady M.
Those two tough mares are nowhere to be found in the Tranquility Lake.
“That definitely helps,” D’Amato says. “She’s training very well, definitely looks like a good spot. She likes it down here at Del Mar. Last time she didn’t get out of the gate at all so we schooled her at the gate. She came flying late so hopefully she can break halfway decent.”
Baffert will send out another one of his top fillies, Show Card. She got her first taste of stakes action last out when finishing a distant last in the G2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita.
“She was over anxious that day,” Baffert notes. “She missed a sprint here, the timing was off. We’re going to give her one more chance to go long.”
Show Card had won back-to-back races going into the ‘Oaks’, both at six-furlongs.
Ascendancy is coming into the Tranquility Lake off of a third-place finish in the $100,000 Osunitas last time out. She got beat that day by Ag Bullet, who aired in a grade two stakes race back at Kentucky Downs Saturday. She had been entered in the G3 Rancho Bernardo, but scratched out when Sweet Azteca entered the race.
“Obviously, I’m just trying to find the easiest spot,” trainer O.J. Jauregui says. “This spot was a little different. But she’s doing great, that’s why I want to make the right decision. She’s been training really well. She’s really adapted good here at Del Mar. I’m very excited how she’s been doing.”
The daughter of Classic Empire won up at Pleasanton this summer taking the $50,000 She’s A Tiger Stakes, then returned to the turf in the Osunitas.
“It seems like she needs to go farther,” Jauregui states. “Del Mar is tough as always. I’m looking for these restricted stakes because she’s still eligible.”
The Tranquility Lake is the third race on the 11-race holiday card Monday. Probable post time is 2:30 p.m.
Here’s the field from the rail with the jockeys and the morning line odds: Yuki (Jeremy Laprida, 20-1); Ascendancy (Reylu Gutierrez, 9/5); Grace Period (Armando Ayuso, 12-1); Show Card (Juan Hernandez, 5/2); Liberal Lady (Antonio Fresu, 8-1), and Super Shine (Hector I. Berrios, 8/5).
COOLING OUT: Jockey Juan Hernandez all but put a cap on this summer’s jockey’s race at Del Mar, scoring another three victories Saturday to up his total to 40, 14 better than runner-up Antonio Fresu…Speed Boat Beach continued his preparations to get back to the races. The winner of the G1 Malibu breezed six furlongs in 1:11.40 Friday on the Del Mar main track. Trainer Bob Baffert says he has not decided yet on where or when the 2022 G3 Cecil B. DeMille winner will return…Notable works for Sunday: Dirt – Linda’s Gift (4f, :48.00); Balladeer (5f, 1:00.80); Easter (5f, 1:00.80); Getaway Car (5f, :59.60); Kirstenbosch (5f, 1:00.80), and Two Rivers Over (5f, 1:03.80). Turf – Zona Verde (3f, :36.40); Iscreamuscream (4f, :51.20), and King of Gosford (4f, :48.80). A total of 200 horses put in official works at Del Mar on Sunday, 27 on the grass.