The strength of the handicap division remains in the East, but the West Coast winner of the Pacific Classic on Saturday at Del Mar gains one potential edge for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 over the same Del Mar surface – home-field advantage. Three late-bloomers top the Grade 1 Pacific Classic – Del Mar horse-for-course Express Train, his California nemesis Royal Ship, and New York shipper Dr Post. The winner of the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic earns a fees-paid berth in the BC Classic. Nine entered the $1 million Pacific Classic, race 10 on a card with a mandatory payout in the pick six. The jackpot was $1.6 million at the start of the week. Barring a single-ticket winner Thursday or Friday, the gross pool Saturday should soar well past $6 million. Five of the six races in the 20-cent pick six (races 6-11) are graded stakes. The sequence begins with the Grade 3 Torrey Pines for 3-year-old route fillies. Race 7 is the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile with brilliant turf miler Mo Forza. Race 9 is the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on turf; Fluffy Socks would be the sixth East Coast shipper in 11 years to win. Race 10 is the Pacific Classic, followed by an East-West duel between Arklow and United in race 11, the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf. As for the Pacific Classic, favorites have won six of the last eight. Saturday’s 3-1 favorite is Express Train, followed by Royal Ship and Dr Post. The others are Tizamagician, Tripoli, pace factor Independence Hall, Cupid’s Claws, Magic On Tap, and Sheriff Brown. :: Visit DRF's Del Mar shop for all your handicapping needs: Past performances, picks, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more None have won a Grade 1 in North America, none are as fast or accomplished as Eastern-based BC Classic candidates Knicks Go and Maxfield. Perhaps the gap will narrow; Express Train, Royal Ship, and Dr Post all enter the Pacific Classic on upswings. John Shirreffs trains 4-year-old Express Train, who has emerged this year as a top older horse for Lee and Susan Searing. He won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap last out at Del Mar, the Grade 2 San Pasqual at Santa Anita, and placed in four more graded stakes. “Maturity has really helped him,” Shirreffs said. “He seems to maintain his composure a little bit better, he goes to the paddock and doesn’t get overly excited.” Juan Hernandez rides Express Train, whose attributes include form, speed, and an affinity for the track – he is 3 for 4 with a second at Del Mar. “It’s certainly a place he enjoys running,” Shirreffs said. “But the way the race shapes up is maybe more important than the course.” Express Train’s speed typically leads to a forward position. He could get a great trip Saturday pressing potential pacesetter Independence Hall. Royal Ship, meanwhile, hopes for a better trip than his third in the San Diego. He raced inside, was blocked passing the quarter pole, had to wait for room, finally rallied inside, and missed by 1 1/4 lengths. It was not a good trip. “You could say that,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “He’ll have to run his best race” Saturday. Mike Smith rides Royal Ship, a Group 1 winner in Brazil whose U.S. career stalled until he was gelded late last year. Since then, 5-year-old Royal Ship has fired every start, including two superior races at Santa Anita – he won the Grade 2 Californian and missed by a head in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup. He is owned by Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm. Mandella also starts Tizamagician, who shortens from a win over Cupid’s Claws in the Grade 3 Cougar II at 1 1/2 miles. Tizamagician has the speed to be forwardly placed under Flavien Prat. :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analysis, and expert picks. Dr Post, trained by Todd Pletcher, is the lone shipper. He ranked just below the top 3-year-olds last year, finishing second in the Belmont and third in the Haskell. Three starts this year have produced a pair of Grade 3 wins. Pletcher, based in New York, rarely ships to California midseason, but there is precedent. Vino Rosso won the 2019 Gold Cup at Santa Anita and five months later the BC Classic on the same track. “The obvious similarities between Dr Post and Vino Rosso is schedule – a prep race over the track where they’re holding the Breeders’ Cup.” Pletcher said. Dr Post added blinkers last out. “It was always in the back of our minds that maybe he’d be a horse that would benefit from just a little added focus,” Pletcher said. “I certainly think it helped . . . had his head in the game a little more.” Joel Rosario rides Dr Post, who is owned by the St. Elias Stable of Vincent Viola. Surprise entrant Independence Hall’s ability to stay 1 1/4 miles is debatable, but he will influence the pace while adding blinkers in his first start since April. “He’s been training forwardly, had a series of solid workouts underneath his belt, and the addition of blinkers seems to have moved him forward,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. The Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on Aug. 27 was planned, but McCarthy said the late decision was “to run right out of his own stall.”