Focus on 3-year-olds in Pacific Classic
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All year long, an unassuming older handicap division waited for revival in California. All year long, budding 3-year-olds waited for a shot at 1 1/4 miles.
They come together Saturday at Del Mar in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, a 1 1/4-mile race led by a trio of 3-year-old colts who missed the Kentucky Derby for one reason or another. Any could shake up the handicap division.
Geaux Rocket Ride, Arabian Knight, and Skinner face older for the first time in the $1 million Pacific Classic, which offers a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Although 3-year-olds won the Pacific Classic more than double the rate of any age group, a familiar question applies – are they good enough this season to defeat older?
“I’ll tell you Sunday,” Geaux Rocket Ride’s trainer, Richard Mandella, cracked. “We think we’re up to it.”
Based on the colt’s decisive victory in the Grade 1 Haskell, and potential improvement Saturday in just his fifth start, many will agree.
Geaux Rocket Ride is the 5-2 program favorite in a Pacific Classic field that includes a pair of 5-year-old Grade 1 winners who enter off subpar races. Santa Anita Handicap winner Stilleto Boy finished sixth in the Stephen Foster, compromised by oppressive heat at Ellis Park. Defunded won the Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita two starts back, but last out finished a flat fourth at in the San Diego at Del Mar.
The Pacific Classic is race 10 on Saturday; the card has five stakes and a mandatory payout in the jackpot pick six on races 6-11. The Pacific Classic field includes Senor Buscador and Slow Down Andy, one-two in the Grade 2 San Diego; Piroli, the Gold Cup runner-up two back; and Tripoli, winner of the 2021 Pacific Classic. Order and Law and Katonah also entered, but Katonah will be scratched after trainer Doug O'Neill said he was dissatisfied with the way the horse was training.
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The established veterans Stilleto Boy and Defunded concede six pounds (124 to 118) to the 3-year-olds. Since the 1991 inaugural Pacific Classic, 3-year-old starters won 31 percent (5 of 16); 5-year-olds, 14 percent (13 of 89); 4-year-olds, 10 percent (12 of 110); and 6-year-olds, 4 percent (2 of 43). Horses aged 7 and 8 are a combined 0 for 14.
For the current 3-year-olds, the Pacific Classic is an overdue shot at 1 1/4 miles after they missed the first Saturday in May. Geaux Rocket Ride got sick and scratched from the Santa Anita Derby, which knocked him from the Kentucky Derby. Skinner, third in the Santa Anita Derby, scratched from the Kentucky Derby with a reported temperature; Arabian Knight, early Derby favorite, had spring works interrupted along with the Churchill Downs-Bob Baffert ban.
The Pacific Classic has never had this many (three) 3-year-olds in the field. One reason is Geaux Rocket Ride, Arabian Knight, and Skinner have demonstrated they might belong. Another reason is the older horses are a muddled bunch in uncertain form. Defunded and Stilleto Boy are good enough when they fire, but neither did last out.
Trainer Ed Moger chalks up Stilleto Boy’s finish in the Foster to humidity and temperature in the 90s.
“I’m hoping it was because it was so humid that day,” Moger said. “He shipped in for it, and he just didn’t run his race.”
Stilleto Boy returned to California and arrived at Del Mar in late July.
“He’s been doing good ever since he got to Del Mar,” Moger said. “He hasn’t missed a work, he’s training great. I think he’s at the top of his game.”
Kent Desormeaux rides Stilleto Boy, whose style should lead to a pressing trip outside likely pacesetter Arabian Knight.
Defunded is a tougher read; he finished fourth at odds-on last out. A two-time Grade 1 winner setting the pace, Defunded has run well from a pressing position. Juan Hernandez rides Defunded for Baffert.
Arabian Knight is expected to set the pace following a third in the Haskell, his first start in six months. Arabian Knight would be the first to win the Pacific Classic in only his fourth career start. While he could steal it under Flavien Prat, Mandella-trained Geaux Rocket Ride and John Shirreffs-trained Skinner have more foundation.
Geaux Rocket Ride “has grown up and kind become a man instead of a boy,” Mandella said. “When they open the gates, he’s dead-serious. He’s got the obvious gift that he can run, and you can’t train them to try like he does.”
Smashing debut sprint winner and runner-up in the Grade 2 San Felipe, Geaux Rocket Ride missed the Santa Anita Derby with a temperature, but enters the Pacific Classic off back-to-back wins, including the Haskell. Mike Smith rides Geaux Rocket Ride from post 1.
Skinner could upset in his second start following a creditable runner-up comeback at Los Alamitos.
“He needed that race,” Shirreffs said, adding “he’s bred to handle a distance.”
Skinner, scratched twice following a wide-trip third in the Santa Anita Derby, will be ridden by Hector Berrios, who worked the colt in both recent drills.
Geaux Rocket Ride is the most probable winner, while Arabian Knight could steal it. And if the pace is legit, late-runner Skinner is highly likely to outrun his double-digit program odds.
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