Flightline the marquee name among Pacific Classic nominations

DEL MAR, Calif. – Undefeated Grade 1 winner Flightline tops the list of nine nominated to the Grade 1, $1 million TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 3. The race is the richest of the summer meet, on the meet’s biggest stakes program.

Five stakes are scheduled for Sept. 3. Nominations were released this week for the Pacific Classic and three Grade 2 turf races the same day – the Del Mar Handicap at a mile and three-eighths, Del Mar Mile and Del Mar Derby. The card also includes the $125,000 Shared Belief, a mile dirt race for 3-year-olds.

Stakes doubleheaders are scheduled Sept. 4-5. Grade 3 stakes on Sept. 4 are the Green Flash Handicap for turf sprinters, and Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on dirt. The Sept. 5 Labor Day card includes the $125,000 Generous Portion for 2-year-old Cal-bred fillies and $100,000 Tranquility Lake, a restricted stakes for fillies and mares. Del Mar closing week is Sept. 9-11. Below is a quick look at the nominations.

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Flightline is expected to be heavily favored Saturday in the Pacific Classic, a mile and one-quarter race that offers the winner a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Pacific Classic will be Flightline’s first start around two turns.

Pacific Classic nominees also include Country Grammer, Royal Ship and Express Train. Others are Extra Hope, Heywoods Beach, Stilleto Boy, Tizamagician and the 3-year-old Taiba, who is also nominated to the Shared Belief.

The winner of the Del Mar Handicap receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The 22 Del Mar Handicap nominees include graded winners Master Piece, Beyond Brilliant, Breakpoint, Heywoods Beach, Hong Kong Harry and two Del Mar Handicap winners – Astronaut (2021) and Red King (2020).

Count Again, two-time Grade 1 winner, tops the list of 22 nominated to the Del Mar Mile. Others include several cross-nominated to the Del Mar Handicap including Astronaut, Beyond Brilliant, and Hong Kong Harry. Graded stakes winner Gregorian Chant and graded placed Cathkin Peak also are nominated to the Del Mar Mile.

Nominations to the mile and one-eighth Del Mar Derby include Oceanside Stakes winner Balnikhov and Oceanside beaten favorite MacKinnon, along with Grade 3 La Jolla winner Cabo Spirit and stakes winner War At Sea.

The Shared Belief attracted 11 nominees including Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba, whose options include the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 24 at Parx. Three-for-three sprinter Big City Lights is nominated to the Shared Belief and also the Green Flash.

The Green Flash, a five-furlong turf sprint Sunday, offers a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf Sprint. The 2021 Green Flash winner Lieutenant Dan, unraced since finishing second in the BC Turf Sprint one year ago, is among the 23 nominees. Others include graded winners Bran and Gregorian Chant, and three females – Leggs Galore, Connie Swingle and Royal Address.

The stakes doubleheader Sunday includes the Torrey Pines in which the Grade 2 winner/Grade 1-placed Desert Dawn is among 11 nominees. Others include graded stakes winners Grace Adler and Under the Stars.

Two stakes on Monday include the Generous Portion; 11 nominees include stakes winner Tom’s Regret and CTBA Stakes winner Chismosa. The supporting feature on Monday is the restricted Tranquility Lake, a mile dirt race for fillies and mares with nominees Soothsay and Eddie’s New Dream.