Reincarnate preps for Pacific Classic in Cougar II; $144,919 pick six carryover
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DEL MAR, Calif. – There is more than one path to the marquee race of the Del Mar summer meet. Reincarnate will take the road less traveled, and perhaps Salesman will also.
The conventional prep for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic is the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile race on Saturday expected to include Grade 1 winners Arabian Knight and Express Train, and Group 1 winner Subsanador.
A less traditional Pacific Classic prep is a main-track marathon Thursday at Del Mar. Reincarnate and Salesman are favorites in the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on dirt. They will face the sharp allowance horse Midnight Mammoth and outsiders Calm Sea, Dual Threat and Clooney.
Based on his runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup, Reincarnate holds the edge. However, Salesman has trained super for his comeback and is returning to the dirt-marathon niche at which he romped in a Grade 2 last fall.
Even though Reincarnate has never raced as far as he will Thursday, the distance is fine, according to his trainer.
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“I think a mile and one-half is not going to be an issue with him,” Bob Baffert said. “He’s a high cruising speed kind of horse. This will put him in the Pacific Classic.”
Reincarnate has a solid foundation, having starting three times since March. He finished third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, fourth in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, and second in the Gold Cup. He runs like he will stay the 1 1/2-mile trip.
“He’s just steady,” Baffert said referring to his even-paced style. “He’s a strong horse, and he worked really well” Saturday at Del Mar.
Racing manager Tom Ryan noted the colt’s inexhaustible energy.
“You never feel like you’ve gotten to the bottom of him, there’s always something left in the tank,” Ryan said. “He’s got his foundation, he’s healthy as could be, let’s see where he takes us.”
Last year, Grade 3 winner Reincarnate took his owners to the Kentucky Derby; he finished 13th. A three-time winner of $587,900 from 14 starts, Reincarnate will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.
It’s not a one-horse race. Salesman is returning to his specialty, a dirt marathon.
“That’s his thing,” trainer Richard Mandella concurred, pointing to a dirt marathon in 2023 at Santa Anita. Salesman won the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance by more than eight lengths. His only start since then was a last-place finish in March in the Santa Anita Handicap.
“He came out a little stiff and sore, no big deal,” Mandella said. “But he’s doing really good now.”
Salesman, with four wins and earnings of $335,800 from 27 starts, will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura.
Mandella did not take the bait when asked if Salesman could be considered for the Pacific Classic.
“I just want to get past this one,” Mandella said. He said the same thing nine summers ago at Del Mar, prior to the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch for fillies and mares.
It was 2015, and Mandella was asked if the Pacific Classic was even a remote possibility for Beholder. Mandella deferred and said his focus was only the Hirsch. Beholder won by seven lengths. In her next start, she won the Pacific Classic by more than eight.
The Cougar II is race 7 on Thursday’s eight-race card that begins with a pick six carryover of $144,919. The $1 wager covers races 3 to 8.
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