Berrios to ride Skinner in Pacific Classic, Shirreffs says
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Hector Berrios, second in the jockey standings at Del Mar through Saturday, has been named to ride the 3-year-old Skinner in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 2, trainer John Shirreffs said.
Berrios replaces Mike Smith, who is committed to ride Geaux Rocket Ride in the $1 million race at 1 1/4 miles.
Geaux Rocket Ride won the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles at Monmouth Park on July 22, the colt’s first graded stakes win in his fourth start.
Skinner was second in the Los Alamitos Derby at 1 1/8 miles on July 8 and will start against older horses for the first time in the Pacific Classic.
This will be the first time that Berrios has ridden for Shirreffs. Berrios relocated from Florida in 2022.
"I think he’s an excellent rider,” Shirreffs said. “He can come from off the pace very well.”
The Pacific Classic is the richest annual race for older horses in Southern California. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
The race has a field of nine candidates, including Arabian Knight, Defunded, Order and Law, Senor Buscador, Slow Down Andy, Stilleto Boy and Tripoli.
Senor Buscador is trained by Todd Fincher, who said he is considering the race for Bye Bye Bobby, who was third to Order and Law in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on July 23.
Katonah, winner of the Pleasanton Mile in Northern California, is doubtful for the Pacific Classic because of a foot issue, trainer Doug O’Neill said on Sunday.
Arabian Knight, third in the Haskell Invitational, will be ridden by Flavien Prat, trainer Bob Baffert said on Sunday. Prat, who is riding at Saratoga this summer, has never ridden Arabian Knight, a winner of two of three starts.
“I think it will be a competitive race,” Baffert said of the Pacific Classic.
Arabian Knight worked seven furlongs in 1:24.40 last Friday at Del Mar.
“He likes the track,” Baffert said. “He’s trained well over it.”
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