Pacific Classic Highlights Del Mar’s Record-tying 2023 Stakes Schedule

The sensational Flightline takes the 2022 edition of the Pacific Classic (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)

DMTC Press Release

DEL MAR, Calif.— With the 33rd edition of its premier event, the $1,000,000 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic leading a parade of 39 offerings in 31 days, Del Mar is set to present a record-tying stakes schedule worth $8,275,000 for the 84th season of Thoroughbred sport at its iconic seaside oval beginning on Friday, July 21.

The Grade I “Classic” at a mile and one-quarter will top a sparkling five-graded-stakes afternoon on Saturday, September 2 that includes the Grade II, $300,000 Del Mar Handicap and the Grade II, $300,000 Del Mar Mile.

All told that track has slated six Grade I races over the course of an eight-week summer stand, as well as six Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” tests that each guarantee a spot in the starting gate for their major counterparts during the two-day, $28 million end-of-season championship spectacular that will be held this year at Santa Anita.

The shore track again will feature eight black-type events strictly for California-breds carrying total purses of $1,150,000. Further, it has 19 stakes on its popular Jimmy Durante Turf Course along with five overnight stakes, each with a value of $100,000.

“We’ve got a stakes schedule that mirrors our record program of last year,” noted Del Mar vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. “We made a couple of very minor tweaks, but otherwise it’s the same offerings at the same value that our horsemen and women found especially pleasing last year.”

As it has for decades, the $100,000 Caesars Sportsbook Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds on the grass will kick off the proceedings on opening day. And closing day – Sunday, September 10 – once more will be headlined by the Grade I, $300,000 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs, the championship event for 2-year-olds at the session.

The track’s six Grade I affairs are led by the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic, of course, but also include the $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes for older horses at six furlongs on Saturday, July 29; the $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile and one-sixteenth on Saturday, August 5; the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at nine furlongs on the turf on Saturday, August 19; the $300,000 FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on Saturday, September 9, and the Del Mar Futurity.

Del Mar’s six “Win & You’re In” races are the Bing Crosby (providing guaranteed entrance to the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Sprint); the Clement L. Hirsch ($2-million Breeders’ Cup Distaff); $250,000, Grade II Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs on Saturday, August 26 ($1-million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile); FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic ($6-million Breeders’ Cup Classic); Del Mar Handicap at 11 furlongs on turf ($4-million Breeders’ Cup Turf); $150,000, Grade III Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf on Saturday, September 2 ($1-million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint).

The stakes schedule features the five stakes day on September 2, as noted, but also has a triple header (including the Grade I FanDuel Sports Debutante and the $250,000, Grade II John C. Mabee Stakes) on Saturday, September 9 and nine other days when there will be stakes doubleheaders.

The historic track will open its season with a three-day weekend (July 21, 22, 23), then have five four-day weeks (Thursday through Sunday), a five-day week (including Labor Day Monday, September 4), then finish with a Friday-through-Sunday weekend (September 8, 9 10).

The list of stakes follows:

* Indicates Overnight Stakes