The list of potential runners in this year's 33rd running of the G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic is growing. You can add a Midwest invader, a local horse from the John Shirreffs barn, and a Pacific Classic winner from two years ago to the list for Breeders' Cup Classic “Win and You're In” contest.
Tripoli won the Pacific Classic in 2021, beating the likes of Tizamagician and Dr. Post. He has struggled to get back to the winners circle since, his lone victory being an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields early this year. The 6-year old son of Kitten's Joy ran fifth in the G2 San Diego last month.
Trainer John Sadler's confidence in Tripoli should be growing following bullet works on consecutive weekends, the most recent on Saturday, a six furlong work at Del Mar in 1:12.60 (1/11).
Skinner is the third 3-year-old to jump on board for the Classic. The son of Curlin was last seen running second to Reincarnate in the Los Alamitos Derby and before that he ran third in the Santa Anita Derby, just a half-length behind the winner, Practical Move. Skinner's only win out of seven career starts was his maiden victory back in February. He ran twice at Del Mar last year including a third-place finish in the G1 Del Mar Futurity.
“We have another work to go,” Shirreffs says. “Then we'll decide if we're going to go.”
Skinner's most recent work came last Saturday. He went seven-furlongs in 1:26.40 at Del Mar (1/2).
The other new addition to the list of Pacific Classic possibles is Call Me Fast from the Michael Puhich barn. After posting runner-up finishes to Rattle N Roll in both the G3 Ben Ali at Keeneland and the G3 Blame at Churchill Downs. He ran fourth last out in the G3 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows.
The 4-year old gelding by Dialed In worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 at Churchill Downs Saturday.
Bob Baffert is still planning to bring two of his heavyweights to the Pacific Classic.
He's worked Defunded three times in the past 10 days, two of them were bullet works. The most recent came this morning when he went 6-furlongs in 1:13.00, (1/8). The son of Dialed In is coming off of a fourth-place finish in the G2 San Diego.
Arabian Knight worked four furlongs in :47.60 (13/168) last Saturday. The 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo finished third his last time out in the G1 Haskell at Monmouth Park. Baffert says he's pleased with how the pair is training.
Geaux Rocket Ride, the winner of the Haskell, is another 3-year old testing older horses for the first time in the Pacific Classic. The Richard Mandella trainee worked seven furlongs in 1:25.40 at Del Mar last Friday.
Two horses coming off victories earlier in the summer meet at Del Mar are eyeing a run in the Pacific Classic. Order and Law won the G3 Cougar II last out. It was his first win since February of 2022 and his first graded stakes victory in his 42-race career. He worked this morning at Del Mar, going 5-furlongs in 1:00.60 (9/38).
“We're leaning that way,” trainer Bob Hess says of the Pacific Classic. “We'll have a decision over the weekend.”
Senor Buscador won the G2 San Diego, the local prep for the Pacific Classic. Trainer Todd Fincher is not afraid to put the 5-year-old son of Mineshaft in with the big boys and he rewarded Fincher with his first stakes win at Del Mar.
“It's a grade one,” Fincher points out, “and that's kind of important for a stallion prospect. With the right circumstances, he can definitely run with them.”
Senor Buscador worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 (6/38) at Del Mar this morning.
Slow Down Andy also is being pointed to the Classic by trainer Doug O'Neill. The ultra-consistent colt was second to Senor Buscador in the San Diego. He hasn't won since taking the G2 Del Mar Derby last year but he did run third to Cody's Wish and Cyberknife in last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland.
The son of Nyquist worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 at Del Mar August 14.
Stilleto Boy has been one of the main fixtures in the handicap division this year, running third in the Pegasus World Cup over the winter, taking the Santa Anita Handicap in the spring and running a close third in the Oaklawn Handicap. He's looking to rebound from a disappointing sixth in the G1 Stephen Foster at Ellis Park last out.
Stilleto Boy worked 6-furlongs in 1:14.60 (7/11) at Del Mar last Saturday.
The G1 Pacific Classic will headline a stakes-filled day of racing on September 2.
The post Potential Pacific Classic Field Rises To 10: Tripoli, Skinner, Call Me Fast Latest Added To List appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
