Pacific Classic

2012 Pacific Classic Field

TVG Pacific Classic (G1), Sunday

Purse: $1,000,000; 1 1/4 miles

Pick Six Analysis By Brad Free

Sixth Race
1. Sophie's Secret 2. Inflamed 3. Van Dien Avenue
Also-eligible SOPHIE'S SECRET finished a creditable third in her debut two weeks ago, worked an easy half-mile since, and is the obvious choice in this sprint for state-bred 2-year-old fillies. If she does not draw in, this race is wide open. INFLAMED is an Unusual Heat first-timer and a full sister to G2 winner Burns (4-for-13), Bushburn (6-for-16) and Hotitude (6-for-28). Two of those win first out. Maybe INFLAMED will follow in the footsteps of debut-winning siblings Brushburn and Hotitude. It's been a good meet for her trainer, Barry Abrams. VAN DIEN AVENUE is by high-percent debut sire In Excess, and a half-sister to millionaire G1 winner The Usual Q.T. He finished second the first four starts of his career. ROUST 'EM BERTIE adds blinkers after a disappointing debut. A half-sister to G1-placed Rousing Sermon, 'BERTIE is from a stable that does better with second-start maidens that first out. SACRED DELIGHT is bred to win early (by Mutakddim).

Seventh Race
1. Obviously 2. Jeranimo 3. Mr. Commons
An overpowering stretch-out victory by OBVIOUSLY stamps the front-runner as the most likely winner on the card, even moving up sharply in class from allowance to G2. He set a blistering pace, finished in full stride, and ran the fastest turf mile at Del Mar in four years. He is the controlling speed and can be long gone. JERANIMO is the "class" of the field, first start since a powerful win in the G1 Shoemaker Mile. The 2-3 finishers from that race both returned to win (runner-up Suggestive Boy won a restricted stakes and is a top contender in the Pacific Classic; Little Mike won the Arlington Million). JERANIMO will fly late, trying to catch a fast front-runner. MR. COMMONS has had a disappointing 4-year-old campaign, losing twice as the odds-on favorite prior to a flat fourth in the Shoemaker. But he ran well on this course last summer including a nose defeat in this very race. Look for him late.

Eighth Race
1. Caminetto 2. King Maya 3. Seven Bridges
A slow start from the rail, and a blazing half-mile (:45.12), foiled odds-on CAMINETTO in his second start. He finished a distant third behind romping Brother Francis. CAMINETTO now moves to an outside post, and his runner-up debut would make him tough to beat. KING MAYA worked well into his scheduled comeback Aug. 5, but was a vet scratch. He worked twice since, and showed much promise finishing third his only start in a fast maiden race back on opening day of the Santa Anita winter meet. SEVEN BRIDGES broke slow and rallied to third in a promising debut. With a race under his belt and a clean start, he figures right there. GOYATHLA has improved each start, and fits even though he moves up from maiden-40 to special-weight.

Ninth Race
1. Game On Dude 2. Suggestive Boy 3. Richard's Kid
GAME ON DUDE is the controlling speed, proven at a mile and a quarter, and working better this year on Polytrack than last year when fourth in this race. The top-ranked older horse in the country and a three-time G1 winner, 'DUDE and jockey Chantal Sutherland are deserving favorites to lead the Pacific Classic gate to wire. SUGGESTIVE BOY, a classy import from Argentina, followed his runner-up finish in the G1 Shoemaker Mile with a solid win in the restricted Wickerr Stakes. He won a G1 at a mile and a quarter in South America, and could be positioned closest to the top choice. RICHARD'S KID, a two-time winner of this race, has re-emerged from his Dubai abyss. Three starts since returning to the U.S. include two daylight wins and a runner-up finish in the Hollywood Gold Cup won by 'DUDE. RICHARD'S KID recently was sold and transferred from trainer Bob Baffert to the Doug O'Neill-Leandro Mora outfit. The filly AMANI was very good in Chile. She finished well in her third-place U.S. debut. Upset chance.

Tenth Race
1. Classic Bobby 2. Warren's Knockout 3. Memphis
CLASSIC BOBBY won this state-bred N1X/optional claimer condition three weeks ago in gate-to-wire fashion, he enters back for the $25k tag, and looks like the speed of the field. Even stretching to six and a half furlongs, he can be gone. WARREN'S KNOCKOUT wheels back eight days after a good runner-up finish in an open $32k claimer. This is a class drop to face state-breds. MEMPHIS fell short by a nose to a six-win veteran in a solid effort at Hollywood. He ran well on this track last summer. DEPTH has improved since being claimed by Mike Pender.

Eleventh Race
1. Miss Communication 2. Splendiferous Moon 3. Glamour Manor
MISS COMMUNICATION will try to wire a field of maiden fillies and mares at a nine-furlong distance that probably is farther than she wants. But with blinkers on, she is the one to catch. This her seventh start, she is none too trustworthy. SPLENDIFEROUS MOON looms the upsetter. Her sixth-place debut was inconclusive. She showed some run late, and always trained like a filly that wants father than six furlongs. This mile and one-eighth distance might be good for her. Price play. A similar comment applies to another second-time starter, GLAMOUR MANOR. She worked well into her debut, and then merely ran around the course in a schooling prep. Blinkers on, a race under her belt, and possible improvement at a price.