Pacific Classic 2024 News

The Grade 1 Pacific Classic will be run at Del Mar on Saturday, Aug. 31. Nominations close on Aug. 22 and the race will be drawn on Aug. 27.  Keep checking the Digest website for updated Pacific Classic news.

The Pacific Classic debuted in 1991 and Best Pal captured the initial running. Three-year-olds have won the Pacific Classic six times, and Beholder was the lone filly to take down the top prize. The most memorable early running was in 1996 when Dare and Go snapped Cigar’s 16-race winning streak, and who could forget Flightline’s almost 20-length romp in 2022. 

Eight horses are listed as possible at this early stage, and a shipper or two could also enter the mix in the coming weeks. 

Pacific Classic Hopefuls (as of 8-10-24): Arabian Knight, Dr. Venkman, Express Train, Full Serrano, Katonah, Midnight Mammoth, Parenting, Subsanador

Arabian Knight – Won the Pacific Classic last summer. He returned from a layoff of more than nine months in the Grade 2 San Diego on July 27, and he set the pace as the favorite and weakened to finish 4th of 5 (missed 3rd by a 1/2 length). He looked like a short horse last time and should have gained fitness. He will need to move up several lengths in his second start after a long layoff to compete for the win in the 2024 Pacific Classic. Bob Baffert has won the Pacific Classic seven times. 

Dr. Venkman – Stretched out, chased Arabian Knight, opened up a clear lead, and won the San Diego by a length. I am not sure about him at 1 1/4 miles. He worked a half-mile in 47.60 (9/92) at Del Mar on Aug. 10.  

Express Train – Rallied from last to pick up the show in the San Diego. Seven-year-old was 6th in the 2021 Pacific Classic and 4th in 2022. He has not won since the 2022 Big ‘Cap at Santa Anita and is 0-for-5 since. He missed all of 2023 and finished third in both starts this year. His latest morning move was an easy half-mile in 51.20 (63/64) at Del Mar on Aug. 9.  

Full Serrano – South American transplant won his first start in this country on Aug. 3 at Del Mar. He dueled from post 1 and edged clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths in a flat mile optional-claiming event. John Sadler won the Pacific Classic in four of the last six years (Accelerate, Higher Power, Tripoli, Flightline). 

Katonah – Won the Pleasanton Mile in 2023 and returned from a one-year layoff to land the place at 20-1 odds in the San Diego Handicap. He worked a half-mile in 47.40 (6/92) at Del Mar on Aug. 10.  

Midnight Mammoth – Set the pace and dominated the Grade 3 Cougar II by 10 1/4 lengths over Reincarnate at 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Del Mar on July 25. He worked four panels in 48.00 (19/92) on Aug. 10. 

Parenting – He is a 3-year-old taking on older rivals. Arabian Knight won the Pacific Classic as a sophomore last year for Bob Baffert. This Baffert runner is 3-for-3. He dominated the Affirmed Stakes on June 9 and turned away older rivals in a relatively fast flat mile dirt race at Del Mar on July 28. The son of Justify is out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare so the potential is there to handle a mile and a quarter. 

Subsanador – He was second in the Santa Anita Handicap and fourth in Hollywood Gold Cup in last pair. He was last seen on May 27 and has worked eight times since, and his last three works were at Del Mar. He likes to be forwardly placed. Richard Mandella has won the Pacific Classic four times (Dare and Go, Gentlemen, Pleasantly Perfect, Beholder).