Piroli went from a career-best performance when second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 29 to the worst luck of his career when he finished a troubled fourth in an allowance race at Del Mar on July 30. The allowance race served as a prep for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 2, even though the three-length loss was more eventful than trainer Michael McCarthy would have preferred. After stumbling at the start, Piroli closed from last of nine with a sustained wide run. “Nothing seemed to work out right,” McCarthy recalled on Thursday. Piroli, a 4-year-old gelding owned and bred by Don Alberto Stable, will be part of a large field in the $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. For Piroli, the Pacific Classic will be his second start at 1 1/4 miles. In the Hollywood Gold Cup at that distance, Piroli disputed the early pace as a 28-1 outside and was beaten a length by Defunded. :: DRF's 2023 Del Mar headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. “A mile and quarter didn’t seem like it was an issue at Santa Anita,” McCarthy said. “We’re hoping it won’t be an issue at Del Mar. It seems like he’s in very good order.” Piroli has won 3 of 14 starts. He won three consecutive one-mile races earlier this year, including an allowance race at Santa Anita. For the Pacific Classic, Piroli will have a new rider. McCarthy said Umberto Rispoli has the mount, replacing Kent Desormeaux who is scheduled to ride Stilleto Boy, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap in March. The Pacific Classic field is led by Geaux Rocket Ride and Arabian Knight, who were first and third in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles at Monmouth Park on July 22. The Pacific Classic will be their first starts against older horses and first at 1 1/4 miles. Other candidates include Senor Buscador, Slow Down Andy, and Defunded, who were first, second, and fourth in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 29. Tripoli, the winner of the 2021 Pacific Classic, was fifth in the San Diego Handicap and is another probable starter in the Pacific Classic. The 3-year-old Skinner, second in the Los Alamitos Derby on July 8, and Order and Law, the upset winner of the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on July 23 in his 42nd start, are two other expected runners. Plans are unclear for Katonah, winner of the $150,000 Pleasanton Mile at the Alameda County Fair in Northern California last month in his stakes debut. Katonah’s training was curtailed earlier this month because of a foot issue, trainer Doug O’Neill said. A 4-year-old, Katonah worked five furlongs in 1:01 last Saturday, his first major exercise this month. A pivotal six-furlong workout is scheduled for Sunday, O’Neill said. :: Visit the Del Mar Handicapping Store for Past Performances, Clocker Reports, Picks, Betting Strategies, and more. “He’s got to do well and tell us he’s ready,” O’Neill said. “We’ll work this Sunday and play it by ear.” O’Neill is more bullish on Slow Down Andy, who led in the stretch of the San Diego Handicap before losing by 1 1/2 lengths to the fast-closing Senor Buscador. Slow Down Andy, third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland last November, will start at 1 1/4 miles for the first time in the Pacific Classic. “We know he’s got the class,” O’Neill said. “The big question is can he go a mile and quarter. We think he can.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.