There are three big chances within the 11-strong field for the 2023 Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday.
William Hill has Geaux Rocket Ride as the shortest price for the lion’s share of the $1 million purse on offer for the 1 mile 2 furlong Grade 1, at 3.25.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: September 2nd, 9:00 A.M. (BST)
The three-year-old won his first Grade 1 for his age at the first attempt in July at Monmouth Park, taking the Haskell Stakes ahead of the likes of Mage and Tapit Trice. Mike E. Smith won on board for the first time that day and retains the ride.
Richard E. Mandella’s runner will have to find an extra furlong on Saturday in his maiden open-age race.
At 3.75 is Arabian Knight, who was beaten in the Haskell Stakes. Bob Baffert is looking to become the outright most successful trainer in this race and has entrusted last year’s winning jockey, Flavien Prat, to win him his seventh Pacific Classic.
Arabian Knight was third at Monmouth Park, his first run of the summer, having previously won a Grade 3 for three-year-olds in January at Oaklawn Park.
The other of the main fancies is Baffert’s other great hope, the 6.50 shot Defunded, a two-time winner of Grade 1 races, most recently the Hollywood Gold Cup over this distance at Santa Anita in May.
The five-year-old was only fourth in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar last time out but that was at least half a furlong short of his best distance.
Senor Buscador (11.00) was the winner of that race, but Todd Fincher’s runner has always struggled for consistency, as proven by his fifth of six in the Hollywood in his previous run. 10.00 shot Slow Down Andy was second in the San Diego; under regular jockey Mario Gutierrez his form suggests he could well challenge the top three for a place.
Stiletto Boy (10.00) beat Proxy to win the Santa Anita Handicap in March but has been going backwards ever since, while Skinner (12.00) was third twice in graded races for three-year-olds earlier this year.
John Sadler has saddled the last two winners of this race, but it will be a surprise if he completes a hat-trick as 2021 winner Tripoli has not tasted victory since then and is 19.00 for Saturday.
Piroli (23.00) was second in the Hollywood, while Katonah (23.00) has won his last two but is untested in graded company.
Seven-year-old Order And Law (34.00) won a Del Mar Grade 3 last time out but has fairly patchy form.
