2023 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Trophy. (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Stable Notes By Jim Charvat
DEL MAR, Calif.—The field is set for the 2023 G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic slated to go Saturday afternoon. Eleven horses are entered in the $1,000,000 mile and a quarter run, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
It’s the largest field for a Pacific Classic since 2013 when Game on Dude trounced 11 rivals by 8 ½ lengths, the largest margin of victory in the Pacific Classic at the time. Accelerate broke the mark in the 2018 edition when he won by 12 ½ lengths and then Flightline smashed it last year with his 19 ¼-length victory.
There are no Flightlines in this year’s race which leaves us with a contentious group that should be appealing to bettors. The morning line favorite, Geaux Rocket Ride, is 5/2. He’s one of a trio of 3-year-olds testing older horses for the first time. Fresh off his breakout win in the G1 Haskell at Monmouth Park in July, the son of Candy Ride hopes to duplicate his dad’s winning performance in the Pacific Classic 20 years ago.
Geaux Rocket Ride drew post #1, which is fine with trainer Richard Mandella.
“Just happy to be there,” Mandella says.
It should be noted, Geaux Rocket Ride drew the one hole in the Haskell, too.
Geaux Rocket Ride put in a quick 3-furlong work Thursday morning. He went :37.40, the eighth fastest out of 23 workers at the distance. It’s a common practice for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella to give his horse a ‘blow out’ a couple of days before a race.
Another 3-year-old in the race, Arabian Knight, drew post #9. He faded to third in the Haskell after setting a contested pace but is a solid 3-1 second choice in the Pacific Classic.
The son of Uncle Mo is trained by Bob Baffert who also will saddle Defunded in the race. He drew post #5. The son of Dialed In is coming off of a disappointing effort in the G2 San Diego when he finished fourth. He’s looking to bounce back to the form that earned him consideration as top handicap horse on the West Coast following his win in the G1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on Memorial Day.
Last year’s G2 Del Mar Derby winner, Slow Down Andy, drew post #7. The runner-up in the G2 San Diego last time out is one of two entries by trainer Doug O’Neill. He’s also bringing the Pleasanton Mile winner, Katonah, who drew post #2.
Stilleto Boy is returning for a second try at winning the Pacific Classic. He finished sixth in last year’s race. The son of Shackleford drew post #3, right where owner Steve Moger wants to be.
“Three’s perfect,” Moger says. “I’d rather be inside the other speed. We drew the outside post last year four or five races in a row, including the (Pacific) Classic.”
“He always runs good on the rail,” trainer Ed Moger, Jr. added.
Tripoli drew post #4, between Stilleto Boy and Defunded. He won the race in 2021, then was held out of last year’s edition because his trainer John Sadler already had another pretty good horse in the race, Flightline.
“It’s an evenly matched, highly competitive field,” Sadler says. “You can make a case for a lot of different horses so it should be a good race; nice mix of 3-year-olds and older horses.”
Another 3-year-old in the race is Skinner from the John Shirreffs barn. He drew the outside post #11. Shirreffs doesn’t feel the outside post will make a difference to his horse.
“For Skinner it probably doesn’t matter because he comes from off the pace,” Shirreffs says. “But for horses in general, you like to have them covered up, one horse outside of them, because if you’re on the outside post they could duck out and then have to straighten out. It’s always a little more comfortable to have a horse outside of you.”
Order And Law drew post #6. The G3 Cougar II winner is trained by Bob Hess, Jr.
The G2 San Diego winner Senor Buscador made it to the race and will break from post #8. Senor Buscador’s victory last out gave trainer Todd Fincher his first Del Mar stakes race win.
Trainer Michael McCarthy has entered Piroli in the Classic. He was second to Defunded in the G1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita in May. The son of Battle of Midway drew post #10 for Saturday’s race.
Here’s the field from the rail with the jockeys and the morning line odds:
1. Geaux Rocket Ride (Mike Smith, 5/2)
2. Katonah (Antonio Fresu, 20-1)
3. Stilleto Boy (Kent Desormeaux, 8-1)
4. Tripoli (Tiago Pereira, 20-1)
5. Defunded (Juan Hernandez, 4-1)
6. Order and Law (Edwin Maldonado, 30-1)
7. Slow Down Andy (Mario Gutierrez, 8-1)
8. Senor Buscador (Geovanni Franco, 10-1)
9. Arabian Knight (Flavien Prat, 3-1)
10. Piroli (Umberto Rispoli, 20-1)
11. Skinner (Hector Berrios, 10-1)
