Pacific Classic scheduled for Aug. 19
The $1 million Pacific Classic will be run Aug. 19 at Del Mar and will be televised by NBC Sports Network, the track announced Wednesday.
The race will have added attention this year with Del Mar hosting the Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 3-4. The Pacific Classic is a key West Coast prep for the $6 million BC Classic. Both races are run at 1 1/4 miles. The winner of the Pacific Classic will receive a fees-paid berth in the BC Classic if nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program.
Trainer Bob Baffert has mentioned the Pacific Classic as a potential race for Arrogate, the winner of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park last Saturday.
The Pacific Classic has had an especially high profile in the last two years, with wins by the champions Beholder and California Chrome in 2015 and 2016. Beholder was the champion older female of 2016 and was second to California Chrome in last year’s Pacific Classic. California Chrome was the 2016 Horse of the Year and champion older male.
For the second consecutive year, the Pacific Classic is the first leg of a three-race series that awards the winner a $1 million bonus if he later wins the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita and the BC Classic. In 2016, California Chrome won the Awesome Again Stakes and was second to Arrogate in the BC Classic.
The Aug. 19 program at Del Mar also will include the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks, for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and the Grade 2, $250,000 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf.
Del Mar’s summer meeting runs July 19 to Sept. 4.