Horse Racing: Pacific Classic Preview
A field of ten has been committed to the $1 million Pacific Classic Grade 1 race, scheduled to be run on the 28th of August at Del Mar. This would be the 20th edition of the 1 1/4th mile race on a day when at least two other graded stakes events would be held on the track.
The field this year is as deep as it gets. Coming back to defend his title again is last year’s winner, ‘Richard’s Kid’ (7-2) with trainer Bob Baffert. The horse would not only want to defend his title but would also be trying to confirm his place in the Breeder’s Cup as the winner of the Pacific Classic would automatically gain entry. The Pacific Classic is one of four races scheduled for this weekend that guarantee a berth in the Breeders Cup.
With Richard’s Kid, Bob Baffert won the Pacific Classic a second time in 2009 and is vying for his third win this year.
Richard’s Kid has not finished better than 3rd in his last 3 races; two of those were with Jockey Martin Garcia. The horse has total earnings of just under $1 million dollars and is not looking too strong for Saturday. Especially since the 9 challengers he would face include ‘Awesome Gem,’ and ‘Unusual Suspect.’
Awesome Gem (9-2) finished at the 7th spot at last year’s Pacific Classic but has since then had the advantage over Richard’s Kid. In July’s Hollywood Gold Cup which Awesome Gem won, Richard’s Kid ended at the second position. In the Cougar II Classic, Richard’s Kid finished behind Unusual Suspect in both 2009 and 2010. Martin Garcia is up against the challenge of a lifetime and many believe that Richard’s Kid and Martin Garcia won’t come out on top on Saturday.
The 7-year-old Awesome Gem has been competing in the Pacific Classic for 3 straight years and this would be his fourth attempt at this race. He finished 7th in the 2009 event but was 2nd in both 2008 and 2007. Awesome Gem is approaching legend status. Racing since 2006, Awesome Gem has won 7 of his 36 starts and finished 2nd in another 13 races. He has won races on all surfaces, be it dirt, turf, synthetic or mud. He won his last start and placed 2nd in the other two of his three previous races. Since 2006, the gelding has amassed over $2.27 million in earnings.
“He’s been a real gem of a horse,” his trainer Craig Dollase opined. Riding Awesome Gem would be Jockey David Flores. David has raced with Awesome Gem on 18 previous occasions and is quite familiar with the horse. Trainer Dollase said that the surface at Del Mar wasn’t the best but Awesome Gem was doing well and was ready for Saturday.
Another horse that looks like it has a good shot at the million dollar race and a confirmed place in the Breeder’s Cup is ‘The Usual Q.T.’ (3-1). The horse has drawn the 10th stall for Saturday. He has won two graded stakes races but both were on turf. To date, he has won none of his 5 races on synthetic surfaces.
Still his connections are confident in his ability. The Usual Q.T. finished a six furlong workout in 1:13.80 seconds. His trainer, Jim Cassidy said that he handles the main track well. Usual Q.T. has won 8 of his 15 starts (8 of 10 on turf) for total earnings of $0.993 million. Cassidy insists that their less than memorable performances off late weren’t due to the synthetic surface. “He'll run on anything, this horse,” Cassidy said. Punters must have believed him because he is the favourite for the race on Saturday.
Awesome Gem’s trainer, Craig said that this year’s Pacific Classic supported a variety of race horses. “You have horses coming off turf races and long marathon-type races. There's speed, there's closers. It's a unique race this year.”
Other horses making up the field of ten are Battle of Hastings (10-1), Isle Of Giant’s (30-1), Dakota Phone (6-1), Temple City (5-1), Unusual Suspect (20-1), Hold Me Back (8-1) and Crowded House (20-1).
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