Pavel will need his best in Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – The course of the 2018 season changed remarkably for Pavel with his win in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 16.

The victory gave Pavel a fees-paid berth for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 and his first win in a Grade 1 race. He will try for his second in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 18.

Pavel is a leading contender in the $1 million Pacific Classic, which is run at 1 1/4 miles. The distance will be a test for Pavel, who is winless in four starts at 1 1/4 miles, including a third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park last October, a 10th in the BC Classic at Del Mar last November, and a fourth in the Dubai World Cup in March.

Friday at Del Mar, Pavel had his last major work for the Pacific Classic, going six furlongs in 1:13.80.

“He looked good galloping out,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “He looks like he’s ready.”

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Pavel must be in peak form to win the Pacific Classic. Accelerate will be favored on the basis of two wins in Grade 1 races at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita earlier this year, including the Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 26. Pavel was fourth in that race, beaten 9 3/4 lengths.

Three weeks later, Pavel won the Stephen Foster at 1 1/8 miles.

O’Neill said the Pacific Classic and one more race – possibly the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 29 – will be on Pavel’s schedule before the BC Classic.

“He’s done a lot of shipping,” O’Neill said, referring to the trip to Dubai.

“He’s a fit and happy horse. Hopefully, he’ll run a huge race and we can have one race between now and then.”

The Pacific Classic had seven probable starters as of Friday.

The South American import Roman Rosso is a candidate, trainer Bob Baffert said on Friday. A 4-year-old colt by the Fusaichi Pegasus stallion Roman Ruler, Roman Rosso has won 5 of 8 starts, all at distances ranging from a mile to 1 9/16 miles.

Roman Rosso, who worked seven furlongs in 1:26 at Del Mar on Friday, has won three consecutive Group 1 races in Argentina and Uruguay. Roman Rosso has not raced since a one-length win in the Latinoamericano Stakes at 1 1/4 miles in Uruguay on March 11.

“He’s a mile and three-eighths horse,” Baffert said. “It will be a tough spot for him. We’ll give him a shot.”

Leading jockey Flavien Prat has the mount.

Baffert plans to start Mubtaahij, who was third in the Dubai World Cup in March and second in the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap in Texas on May 27.

Other Pacific Classic candidates are Beach View, Prime Attraction, and The Lieutenant.

Baffert won the race in 2017 with Collected, who has not raced since finishing seventh in the Pegasus World Cup in January. Collected is galloping at Del Mar for a return to racing in the autumn.