Express Train works six furlongs for Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. - Fast workouts have become commonplace of late for Express Train in advance of what may be his richest win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

The Pacific Classic will be Express Train’s second appearance in a $1 million race, preceded by a third to Silver State in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park in April.

Since then, Express Train finished a well-beaten third behind Country Grammer and Royal Ship in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 31 and won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles here on July 17. The San Diego Handicap win solidified Express Train’s position among the leading contenders for the Pacific Classic.

A 4-year-old colt, Express Train has had three six-furlong workouts this month – 1:12.60 on Aug. 2, 1:13 on Aug. 9 and 1:12.20 on Sunday.

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Trainer John Shirreffs said he was impressed with Sunday’s workout, considering it was conducted about 15 minutes after the training session began. By then, the main track had been heavily used by workers and gallopers.

“It was better than it looked,” Shirreffs said. “He didn’t work until about 8. By the time he got to work, it was pretty chewed up.”

Through the year, Express Train has worked quickly in advance of his races. Shirreffs said Express Train seems sharper in recent weeks.

“I’ve been very happy with the way he’s been,” he said.

In the San Diego, Express Train was always near the front, took the lead in early stretch and won by a half-length over Tripoli, who is part of the Pacific Classic field. Royal Ship finished third, finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind Express Train.

Royal Ship was the 8-5 favorite in the San Diego and will be well backed in the Pacific Classic along with Express Train. Juan Hernandez has been aboard Express Train since late December and retains the mount.

The Pacific Classic has a projected field of eight that includes Cupid’s Claws, Dr Post, Magic on Tap, Sheriff Brown, and Tizmagician. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic here Nov. 6.

Shirreffs considered starting Midcourt, but said Sunday that the 6-year-old gelding will pass on the race. Midcourt, third in the 2020 Pacific Classic, worked six furlongs in 1:14.60 on Sunday. He won an allowance race at Santa Anita in June in his lone start this year.

Express Train and Midcourt are owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stables.

Cupid’s Claws, second to Tizmagician in the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on July 18, worked five furlongs from the gate in a minute on Saturday under jockey Umberto Rispoli, who will ride the 6-year-old gelding for the first time in the Pacific Classic.

The Pacific Classic will be the Grade 1 debut for Cupid’s Claws, who was claimed for $50,000 last September by his current owners – the partnership of Flawless Racing, Masino Racing, Brian Flanagan, and Michael Jarvis.

Trainer Craig Dollase said Cupid’s Claws worked from the gate “to put a little gate speed in him.”

“We’ll look to be forwardly placed,” Dollase said. “He’s a stayer.”

Cupid’s Claws has earned $104,644 in five starts since being claimed, a span highlighted by a win in the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita last September.

Dollase and Rispoli have teamed to win three stakes this year with the Cal-bred Brandothebartender.

“We’ve got a good thing going,” Dollase said.

The Pacific Classic is one of five graded stakes on Saturday’s program, by far the richest day of the summer meeting, which continues through Sept. 6.

The Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, a $300,000 race on turf, will be the first meeting of the Grade 1 winners – Hit the Road, Mo Forza, and Smooth Like Strait.

Hit the Road and Smooth Like Strait were first and second in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in March at a time when Mo Forza was sidelined.

The $300,000 Del Mar Mile will be Mo Forza’s first start since a win in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita last October. On Saturday, Mo Forza worked five furlongs from the gate in 1:00.80 at the nearby San Luis Rey Downs training center. Mo Forza won the 2020 Del Mar Mile.

On Sunday, Hit the Road worked a half-mile on dirt at Del Mar in 48.20 seconds for his first start since a fifth-place finish as the 5-2 favorite in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland in April.

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Hit the Road has worked steadily in the last two months at Santa Anita and Del Mar.

“He’s ready to go,” trainer Dan Blacker said. “He’s ready to run a big race.”

In other stakes on Saturday, the multiple stakes winners Arklow and United highlight the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf. The winner of the Del Mar Handicap receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 6.

Madone and Going Global, first and second in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf on July 24, will have a rematch in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, a $300,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

The Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on dirt is also on the program.

Gamine works five furlongs

Gamine, the champion female sprinter of 2020 who is unbeaten in three stakes this year, worked five furlongs in a rapid 58.20 seconds on Sunday at Del Mar for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 28.

Trained by Bob Baffert for Michael Petersen, Gamine won the Grade 2 Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 5. Baffert declined an interview request on Sunday regarding Gamine.