Longshots work in preparation for Pacific Classic
DEL MAR, Calif. – The graded stakes winners Dalmore and Hard Aces, and the graded stakes-placed Win the Space, worked at Del Mar on Saturday in advance of their expected next start – the difficult assignment of facing California Chrome and Dortmund in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 20.
Dalmore, Hard Aces, and Win the Space will be longshots in a race led by California Chrome and Dortmund, the first two finishers in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 23. The San Diego was California Chrome’s first start since a win in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 26. Dortmund is a millionaire multiple stakes winner who was third in the 2015 Kentucky Derby.
Facing those runners will not be easy, but the Pacific Classic is the richest race of the summer in California.
For Dalmore, a 3-year-old, the Pacific Classic will be his first start against older horses following a win in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita on July 2. Trainer Keith Desormeaux considered the $750,000 West Virginia Derby on Saturday before opting to stay in Southern California.
Dalmore worked six furlongs Saturday in 1:14. Desormeaux said Dalmore joined a horse in front of him during the workout.
“He caught some company in the last quarter,” Desormeaux said. “It turned out to be good for Dalmore.”
Dalmore is the only 3-year-old being considered for the Pacific Classic two weeks before the race; the 6-year-old Hard Aces would be one of the oldest runners. Hard Aces worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds Saturday, his first workout since a win in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on dirt July 24.
Trainer John Sadler cautioned on Saturday that Hard Aces is not a definite runner in the Pacific Classic. An option is the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf Aug. 20.
“We’re looking at it and we’ll see how it shapes up,” Sadler said of the Pacific Classic.
Win the Space was third in the San Diego Handicap, beaten 7 3/4 lengths by California Chrome. Win the Space worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds Saturday, galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.20, according to trainer George Papaprodromou.
Papaprodromou said the Pacific Classic has appeal because it’s a lucrative local race. The competition is not as appealing.
“I don’t want to ship anywhere,” he said. “We’ll give it one more shot against California Chrome.”
Other candidates for the Pacific Classic are War Story, who was 16th in the 2015 Kentucky Derby; Hoppertunity, who was fourth in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 25 in his last start; and Beholder, the winner of the 2015 Pacific Classic.
Beholder was second to Stellar Wind in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes on July 30. Trainer Richard Mandella said he is taking a conservative approach regarding Beholder’s participation in the Pacific Classic. The 6-year-old mare galloped 1 1/2 miles Saturday.
“It’s 50-50,” he said. “It depends on how she feels. I don’t have to do anything.”
Short, sweet for So Sweetitiz
So Sweetitiz is likely to leave Del Mar this next month with a perfect record at the summer meeting.
So Sweetitiz on Friday won her second consecutive stakes in the $85,380 Daisycutter Handicap for fillies and mares. The five-furlong turf sprint may be the only start of the meeting for So Sweetitiz. Trainer Marty Jones said Saturday he may wait for the Santa Anita autumn meeting for her next start.
Owned by her breeder, Pamela Ziebarth, So Sweetitiz ($10) closed from third in a field of nine to win the Daisycutter Handicap by a half-length over 14-1 Late Spring. So Sweetitiz, 4, has won 4 of 8 starts and has earned $179,790. She won her stakes debut in the Mizdirection Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on May 21 and has won three of four since being switched to the turf in February.
There is one graded stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course at the Santa Anita autumn meeting – the $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes on Nov. 5. The Grade 3 race is part of the undercard for the Breeders’ Cup Classic program.