Ginobili likely to bypass Pacific Classic for Charles Town Classic
Several horses being considered for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 21 at Del Mar may instead run in stakes in the Mid-Atlantic.
Ginobili, winner of an allowance race at a mile by 9 3/4 lengths on July 17, is likely to run in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, an $800,000 race on Aug. 27.
Nick Cosato, who directs the Slam Dunk Racing partnership that co-owns Ginobili, said the other possible spots for Ginobili are the Pacific Classic or the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes on Aug. 28 at Del Mar.
“Charles Town would be the first choice, unless it comes up super tough,” Cosato said.
Tizamagician, winner of the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes on July 18 at Del Mar, is a candidate for the Pacific Classic or the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup, a $200,000 race on Sept. 25 at Parx Racing, trainer Richard Mandella said.
“It’s a thought,” Mandella said of the Greenwood Cup. “We’ll size up the Classic.”
The $1 million Pacific Classic is the richest race of Del Mar’s summer meeting. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
The probable starters for the Pacific Classic include Express Train, Tripoli, and Royal Ship, the first three finishers of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 17 at Del Mar; Cupid’s Claws, second in the Cougar II Stakes; Classier, winner of the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby on July 4; and Dr Post, winner of the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup on July 17.
Trainer Todd Fincher said Sunday there is an outside chance that Sheriff Brown would start. Sheriff Brown was seventh in the San Diego.
Mandella said he is sending Bombard to the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, a $1 million race at six furlongs on Sept. 11. Bombard, who won the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on May 2 at Santa Anita, worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds on Sunday.