Melatonin out of Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – Melatonin, the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup at Santa Anita earlier this year, will miss the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 20 because of a persistent illness, trainer David Hofmans said on Wednesday.

Hofmans expressed concern last weekend that Melatonin would not have sufficient time to be ready for the Pacific Classic.

Melatonin has not had a workout since winning the Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 25. Hofmans said Melatonin had an elevated white blood cell count earlier this week and is only in light training. Melatonin, 5, will be pointed for the Santa Anita autumn meeting, with the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes on Oct. 1 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 as goals.

The Grade 1 Pacific Classic may include at least one 3-year-old. Dalmore, the winner of the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita on July 2, is a candidate, trainer Keith Desormeaux said on Wednesday.

The Pacific Classic field is expected to be led by California Chrome and Dortmund, the first two finishers in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 23. Other candidates are Win the Space, who was third in the San Diego, and Hard Aces, the winner of the Cougar II Handicap on July 24.

Beholder, the winner of the 2015 Pacific Classic, has not been ruled out of consideration, trainer Richard Mandella said on Wednesday. A three-time champion, Beholder was second to Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar last Saturday.

Mandella said he will wait for the next week or so before finalizing race plans for Beholder.

“It’s a possibility,” Mandella said of the Pacific Classic. “We’ll get her back in routine and watch her.”

Trainer John Sadler said Stellar Wind is not under consideration for the Pacific Classic, which is run at 1 1/4 miles.