Indispensable, Tarantino definites for Pacific Classic, trainers say
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Indispensable, the winner of an allowance race at Del Mar on July 19, and Tarantino, third in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 26, are set to start in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 30, their trainers said on Sunday.
Both will be longshots in the $1 million Pacific Classic, which is run at 1 1/4 miles. The probable field is led by Nysos, winner of the San Diego Handicap in his last start, and possibly the star 3-year-old Journalism, who won the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 19.
Tarantino, trained by Peter Eurton for David Bernsen and Rockingham Ranch, was claimed for $40,000 in July 2024 and has since won once and finished second or third in five graded stakes. Eurton considered the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in West Virginia on Aug. 22, but said on Sunday that is no longer the plan.
“Charles Town is out,” Eurton said. “He loves the (Del Mar) track and he’s breezed really well over it.”
Tarantino worked a half-mile in 47 seconds at Del Mar on Friday.
Indispensable was second or third in three consecutive stakes at Del Mar, Remington Park and Zia Park last summer and fall. The recent allowance race win was Indispensable’s second start of the year.
“We think he loves this track and the distance is not an issue,” trainer John Sadler said.
Indispensable, owned by Michael Talla, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Edwin Barker, has won 2 of 4 starts at Del Mar and finished second in the other two races.
Other candidates for the Pacific Classic include Mirahmadi, Midnight Mammoth, and possibly White Abarrio.
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