Knightsbridge romps in Pacific Classic, enters BC Classic picture
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DEL MAR, Calif. – Move over, Sovereignty.
A crushing victory by heavily favored Knightsbridge in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Saturday at Del Mar has given his trainer, jockey and owner another elite candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Five weeks after he trounced Grade 3 company at Monmouth Park in his first try at two turns, Knightsbridge ($4.20) steamrolled 10 rivals Saturday at Del Mar to join stablemate Sovereignty as an early contender for the BC Classic.
Bill Mott trains Sovereignty and Knightsbridge; Junior Alvarado rides both; both are owned by breeder Godolphin.
On Saturday at Del Mar, it was Knightsbridge’s turn to shine.
Knightsbridge pressed a blazing pace set by Full Serrano, attacked Full Serrano at the half-mile pole, put him away at the head of the lane, and ran away to win the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic by 6 1/4 lengths in 2:01.79.
Original Sin rallied from last to second; Full Serrano held on for third; and the filly Om N Joy rallied from far back to finish fourth. Hit Show, the second betting choice, finished sixth. Japan shipper Finger never got involved and finished last.
The win by Knightsbridge caps an exciting five weeks for the 5-year-old by Nyquist. Last out, in his first try at two turns, he won the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup by more than 10 lengths with a 122 Beyer. His figure won’t be as high for the Pacific Classic, but the manner in which he crushed modest foes suggests he could give Sovereignty a battle later this year in the Breeders’ Cup.
Knightsbridge’s trainer was concerned at the pace Knightsbridge produced. “I thought maybe they were going a little too fast down the backside,” Mott said. “They were going (:45.45), a pretty honest pace for a mile and a quarter race. They went quick, but gosh, he had something to finish with.”
It helped that Knightsbridge was the best horse, based on his last-start victory. Alvarado, who is the regular rider for Whitney winner Sovereignty, said Knightsbridge handled the Del Mar surface well.
“He was kind of skipping over the ground,” Alvarado said. “I had my hopes that when I asked him he would give me his best right when we turned for home. I couldn’t even pull him up, he was going so strong.”
Original Sin’s trainer Brendan Walsh was proud of his colt’s runner-up finish under jockey Juan Hernandez. Walsh said Original Sin “ran great, he just left the gate so slow, and gave himself so much work to do. But the winner’s a superstar.” Original Sin broke last, trailed the field, and passed all but the winner.
Full Serrano also ran well considering he missed his prep race early this summer, and was racing for the first time since March. John Sadler trains Full Serrano. “We’re thrilled,” Sadler said. “Considering we missed the prep, a mile and a quarter, and fast pace … good race.”
Sadler said Full Serrano will aim for a second victory in the BC Dirt Mile, a race he won in 2024 at Del Mar. This year’s Breeders’ Cup is at Keeneland.
Om N Joy, the California-bred filly facing males for the first time, rallied from second-to-last to finish fourth.
“I’m proud of her, and the journey she’s taken us on,” trainer Aggie Ordonez said. “I think it’s a sign of great things to come, especially against the girls.”
Om N Joy’s next start will be against fillies and mares.
After the top four finishers, the Pacific Classic order of finish was completed by Hit Show, Malarchuk, Forged Steel, British Isles, Navajo Warrior, Subsanador and Finger.
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