Arrogate, Accelerate among five expected for Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – The Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 19 may have only five starters, the smallest field for the $1 million race since four ran in 2003.

As of Friday, the expected runners for the Pacific Classic were Accelerate, Arrogate, Collected, Curlin Road and Donworth. Songbird, the two-time champion female, is nominated for the Pacific Classic, but trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said her next start has not been selected. The Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 26 is another possibility.

“We’re not leaning” in any direction, he said on Friday.

Accelerate and Donworth were first and second in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 22, a race in which Arrogate finished a shocking fourth as the 1-20 favorite. The San Diego Handicap was Arrogate’s first start since a win in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March.

Collected is unbeaten in three starts this year, including a 14-length win in the Grade 3 Precisionist Stakes at Santa Anita on June 24. Curlin Road won the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles here on July 26.

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The Pacific Classic has had fields ranging from eight to 12 starters since 2003.

The race is run at 1 1/4 miles. The winner will receive a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic here on Nov. 4.

On Friday, Curlin Road and Donworth had their final workouts before the Pacific Classic for trainer Doug O’Neill.

Curlin Road went six furlongs in 1:12.80 in company with Mopotism, who was second in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks on July 15. Mopotism, a candidate for the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 19, was timed in 1:12.60.

“They got to humming along pretty good,” O’Neill said.

Donworth worked alone and was timed in 1:14.20.

“He finished strong,” O’Neill said.

The Pacific Classic is the richest race of the summer meeting and one of four graded stakes run the weekend of Aug. 19-20.

The Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-old fillies on Aug. 19 is led by such runners as Madam Dancealot, the winner of the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap on July 23, and is likely to include Beau Recall, Blame It On Alphie, Dream Dancing, Kendra, and Pacific Wind.

Dream Dancing, the winner of the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March, worked a half-mile in 48.88 on the Oklahoma turf course at Saratoga on Friday for trainer Mark Casse.

Trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday that Paradise Woods will skip the Del Mar Oaks in favor of the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes on Aug. 27.

The Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Aug. 19 will have a Casse-trained runner in Monster Bea, who won the 2016 Oceanside Stakes here when trained by Peter Miller. More recently, Monster Bea was ninth in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes at Woodbine on July 2.

Other candidates for the Del Mar Handicap include 2016 winner Ashleyluvssugar, Big John B, Hunt, Itsinthepost, and Up With the Birds. Hunt won the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes here on July 22.

The winner of the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf here on Nov. 4.

The Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf on Aug. 20 has four principal runners – Midnight Storm, Bal a Bali, Blackjackcat and Om. Bal a Bali has been the top turf miler in California this year, with wins in two Grade 1 races at Santa Anita – the Frank Kilroe Mile in March and the Shoemaker Mile in June.