Rock Your World Nominated to Pacific Classic

A total of 15 horses–headed by Hronis Racing's GISW Rock Your World (Candy Ride)–have been nominated to Del Mar's GI TVG Pacific Classic Aug. 21, a 'Win and You're In' to the Breeders' Cup Classic. Winner of the GI Santa Anita Derby in April, the John Sadler trainee was initially being targeted for the Sept. 4 GII Del Mar Derby on the turf despite having won a Grade I on the dirt. In his two most recent starts, the striking dark bay finished 17th and sixth, respectively, in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont S. The colt's connection have notched back-to-back Pacific Classic wins with Accelerate in 2018 and Higher Power in 2019.

Sadler is also expected to run GII San Diego H. runner-up Tripoli (Kitten's Joy), who went six furlongs in 1:12.80 this morning under exercise rider Cerapio Figueroa. Also campaigned by Hronis Racing, the $450,000 KEESEP yearling purchase galloped out to seven furlongs in 1:24.80.

“I was pleased with it, he's set for the Classic,” Sadler said. Tiago Pereira, aboard for the 4-year-old colt's last three starts since May, retains the mount.

Also nominated to the race, St. Elias Stable's Dr Post (Quality Road). Trainer Todd Pletcher, from his Saratoga headquarters, indicated he's considering the coast-to-coast ship for the recent winner of the GIII Monmouth Cup July 17.

“We're going to breeze him Saturday and if we're pleased with that, he's a go,” Pletcher said.

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Upcoming Del Mar Stakes Feature Two-Year-Olds, Rock Your World

Four stakes that spotlight promising 2-year-olds, the second leg of the series for 3-year-olds, and the 69th running of the Yellow Ribbon for older fillies and mares on turf comprise a six-pack of added-money events for the fourth week of the meeting starting Thursday at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

The $100,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes, at 5 ½ furlongs for California-bred 2-year-old fillies initiates things on Thursday. From a list of 12 nominations, a field of nine was entered Saturday with Jorge Periban-trained At the Spa significantly coming in off a victory in a $100,000 stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., in June.

The post position draw was to be held later in the day. The field in alphabetical order with jockeys in parenthesis: At the Spa (Tyler Baze); Carmen Miranda (Giovanni Franco); Drizella (Juan Hernandez); Gianna's Wild Cat (Jessica Pyfer); Irish Wahine (Abel Cedillo); It's Simple (Mario Gutierrez); Ko Olina (Edwin Maldonado); Lion's Lair (Tiago Pereira) and Madiha (Umberto Rispoli).

Friday's feature is the $200,000 Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, often a stepping stone to the $300,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante near the end of the meeting. Bob Baffert, a seven-time Sorrento-winning trainer, has three of the 22 nominees.

Saturday card features the $200,000 Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon and the $200,000 Best Pal. The Yellow Ribbon, at 1 1/16 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, drew a dozen nominees topped by Simon Callaghan-trained Maxim Rate, winner of the Grade I Gamely at Santa Anita in May.

The Best Pal, often an identifier of potential for the $300,000 Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity on closing day of the meeting, has 16 nominations, six of whom have been training outside California.

The week concludes Sunday with the $150,000 Grade 3 La Jolla, the second leg of the series for 3-year-olds, and the $100,000 Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds.

John Sadler-trained Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World is among 15 nominations for the La Jolla, a return to turf racing for the son of Candy Ride after unsuccessful Triple Crown trail runs in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

Fourteen were nominated to the Graduation, among them Luis Mendez-trained Big City Lights, a winner of two starts by a combined 19 ¾ lengths.

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Sadler: Santa Anita Derby Winner Rock Your World Will Return To Turf

Trainer John Sadler told the Daily Racing Form Sunday that Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World will return to turf for his next start.

The 3-year-old son of Candy Ride won his first two starts on the grass, then dominated by over five lengths when switched to the dirt for the Santa Anita Derby. A tough trip saw the colt finish 17th in the Kentucky Derby, and Rock Your World did not threaten when sixth in the Belmont Stakes five weeks later.

Now, Sadler said the long-range target is the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby (nine furlongs on the turf) on Sept. 4. If Rock Your World is ready and requires a prep race, the G3 La Jolla (1 1/16 miles on the grass) on Aug. 8 is a possibility.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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The Haiku Handicapper Presented By Form2Win: 2021 Belmont Stakes

Time to analyze the 2021 Belmont Stakes field, in post position order, in the form of Haiku; a Japanese poem of 17 syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five.

To read previous editions of The Haiku Handicapper, click here.

#1 – Bourbonic
Thirteenth in Derby
Accurate barometer
Of his class level

#2 – Essential Quality
Practically ran this
Going wide in the Derby
Still head of his class

#3 – Rombauer
Shocked the Preakness field
Is it a long-term form jump
Or just a bubble?

#4 – Hot Rod Charlie
Belongs in this spot
But “play against” is safe when
O'Neill tries this race

#5 – France Go de Ina
アメリカで
ぶどうを食べた
頑張るよ

Thanks to Japan Triple Crown recruiter Kate Hunter for writing this haiku in Japanese, fitting it within the format's syllable parameters in that language. Here's how it reads in English:

In America
I ate a lot of grapes
I will try my best

#6 – Known Agenda
Substitute rider
Shouldn't harm his otherwise
Sterling credentials

#7 – Rock Your World
Derby woes aside,
Are we sure he has the gas
To last on the lead?

#8 – Overtook
The one thing he has
Over Known Agenda is
A higher sale price

Prediction
“Quality” holds sway
Over game Known Agenda
Three, four fill super

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