The #$1-million FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar is less than a week away and many nominees for the $1-million race put in their final works this weekend for the 1 1/4-mile test for 3-year-old and older.
On Friday, Geaux Rocket Ride went seven furlongs in 1:25. It was the 3-year-old's fourth work since his breakout win in the TVG.com Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park last month. Two of those works were at seven furlongs, as trainer Richard Mandella readies the son of Candy Ride for his first race against older horses.
On Saturday, Arabian Knight worked five furlongs in :59.60 (3rd fastest of 94 times moves at the distance). The son of Uncle Mo also ran in the Haskell, finishing third, and he's put in four works since returning to the West Coast and to the Bob Baffert barn.
The last of the trio of 3-year old eyeing the Pacific Classic is Skinner. He worked five furlongs Saturday in 1:00.60 (22/94) for trainer John Shirreffs, who said he was waiting to see how his son of Curlin did in his final work before making a final decision on whether to run or not. The colt has put in six works since his last race, a runner-up finish to Reincarnate in the Los Alamitos Derby on July 8.
Piroli worked four furlongs in :47.60 (9/124) on Saturday at Del Mar for trainer Michael McCarthy. His last race was a fourth-place finish in a second-level allowance race at Del Mar last month but before that he was runner-up to Defunded in the Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita. He's worked three times since.
Stilleto Boy put in a nice five-furlong work Saturday for trainer Ed Moger Jr., stopping the clock at 1:00.60 (23/96). The Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner is a go for the Pacific Classic next Saturday.
“We are going to run him,” Moger said. “We breezed him Saturday and he came out of it good. He's been training great the whole meet and he's ready to run.”
The son of Shackleford has worked six times since his last race, a sixth-place finish in the Stephen Foster (G1) at Ellis Park.
Slow Down Andy worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 (9/14) on Saturday. He's worked three times since his runner-up finish to Senor Buscador in the San Diego (G2).
American Admiral worked four furlongs in :48.40 (38/126) Saturday at Del Mar. Trainer Tim Yakteen has worked the big, imposing son of American Pharoah three times since his eighth-place finish in the San Diego last month.
Tripoli, the 2021 Pacific Classic winner, is being pointed to this year's race. He worked seven furlongs Saturday in 1:25.20.
“He likes this track,” trainer John Sadler said. “Last year we didn't want to run him (in the Pacific Classic) against Flightline. He was fifth in the prep (San Diego) and (jockey) Tiago (Pereira) said to us he had some trouble and with good luck he would have been second.”
On Sunday, trainer Doug O'Neill sent out Katonah, who worked six furlongs in a bullet 1:12.00 (1/9). The Pleasanton Mile winner has worked three times since returning from Northern California.
The Pacific Classic is the feature on a five-stakes program next Saturday. The draw for the 'Win and You're In' for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) will be held Tuesday at the Brigantine Restaurant in Del Mar.
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