Pacific Classic Day 2024 Stakes Recaps

By Jarrod Horak

Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar on Saturday, August 31 featured five graded stakes races. The Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic was the marquee event and Mixto pulled off the 22-1 upset. Let’s recap the action.

Grade 3 Torrey Pines (3yo fillies, one mile dirt)

Fractions: 21.70, 45.31, 1:10.67, 1:23.11, 1:36.15

Internal Fractions: 23.61, 25.36, 12:44, 13.04

Order of Finish: Hope Road, Nothing Like You, Grand Slam Smile, Desert Rhapsody, Back On Track, Soho

Scratches: Omaha Girl (trainer), Simply Enchanting (trainer)

Recap: The pace was fast as expected. Soho opened up early and strong favorite Hope Road sat in second, took over after six panels, and rolled home by 5 lengths. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert and she paid $3.00. Nothing Like You, also trained by Baffert, rallied from off the pace and tried to go with the winner, but she could not keep pace in the lane and ended up 6 lengths in front of clear show finisher Grand Slam Smile. No word on Hope Road’s next start but she will likely be a handful wherever she turns up. 

Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap (1 3/8 miles turf)

Fractions: 25.77, 51.13, 1:16.44, 1:41.44, 2:05.46, 2:17.05

Internal Fractions: 25.36, 25.31, 25.00, 24.02, 11:59

Order of Finish: Gold Phoenix, Dicey Mo Chara, Balnikov, Rockemperor, Master Piece, El Encinal

Scratches: Balladeer (trainer), There Goes Harvard (re-entered)

Recap: The pace was slow to develop and they went faster as the race wore on. Dicey Mo Chara almost stole this one but post time favorite Gold Phoenix was a bit too much late. Kyle Frey rode the latter and he caught the early runner and got up by a neck to capture this race for the third straight year. Phil D’Amato saddled the winner and he paid $6.80. Balnikov had the race flow working against him and he rallied from last and missed the whole ball of wax by a neck and a head. The latter is the horse I want out of this race. Give him a bit more pace to chase and he can win his next start. 

Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap (5 furlongs turf)

Fractions: 21.77, 44.38, 56.17

Internal Fractions: 22.61, 11.76

Order of Finish: Motorious, Johnny Podres, No Nay Hudson, Daniel’s Magic, Fast Buck, Star Racer, Sassy Nature, Turn On the Jets, Unconquerable Keen, Mo Gold

Scratches: Connie Swingle (vet), Noble Reflection (trainer) 

Recap: There was plenty of pace in the paper race and this is exactly how in played out in real time. Sassy Nature was humming along early and the pace pressers did not allow her any relief. No Nay Hudson stalked the pace and made the first move, but post time favorite Motorious was moving best of all and rallied to win by 3/4ths of a length over 12-1 late runner Johnny Podres. No Nay Hudson was best of the rest in third. Antonio Fresu rode the winner for Phil D’Amato and he paid $6.60 to win. 

Grade 1 Pacific Classic (1 1/4 miles dirt)

Fractions: 23.42, 46.95, 1:11.62, 1:36.29, 2:02.10

Internal Fractions: 23.53, 24.67, 24.67, 25.81

Order of Finish: Mixto, Full Serrano, Reincarnate, Dr. Venkman, There Goes Harvard, None Above the Law, Katonah, Il Miracolo

Scratches: Adare Manor (trainer)

Recap: Post time favorite Adare Manor was forced to scratch after tying up two days before the race. Full Serrano made the running as expected under Reylu Gutierrez and he almost went all the way. The pace was controlled and there was no closing going on in this race. Mixto chased from second and lost a bit of ground when Full Serrano tried to kick away in the stretch, but Doug O’Neill’s Good Magic colt kept on coming and gradually got there and won by a half-length. Full Serrano ran a winning race but had to settle for the place, and Reincarnate stalked the pace and was a clear third. Beaten favorite Dr. Venkman was best of the rest in fourth. The mile and a quarter distance played against the chalk. Kyle Frey rode the winner and he paid $46.40. Mixto was 1-for-13 heading into this contest and this was a win and you’re in for the BC Classic. 

Grade 2 Del Mar Mile (8 furlongs turf)

Fractions: 23.45, 47.14, 1:10.72, 1:22.33, 1:34.05

Internal Fractions: 23.69, 23.58, 11:61, 11.72

Order of Finish: Conclude, Almendares, Astronomer, Du Jour, Lammas, First Peace, Exaulted, Irideo, Flashiest, Halfway Line

Scratches: None

Recap: Conclude ($12.20) stole this one under Hector Berrios. He made the lead and set comfortable fractions. He maintained a half-length lead through six panels, kicked clear by a length and a half in the stretch, and held off 7-1 closer Almendares to score by a head. Astronomer stalked the pace and finished third, and Du Jour was an even fourth. Beaten favorite First Peace stalked wide from an outer post and retreated to 6th. Phil D’Amato was the winning trainer.