Del Mar
Strong drill puts Dr. Dorr into Pacific Classic field
Shigeki Kikkawa Dr. Dorr, winner of the Grade 2 Californian Stakes, is being pointed for the Gold Cup on May 26.
DEL MAR, Calif. - A strong six-furlong work in 1:14 by Dr. Dorr on Tuesday morning at Del Mar convinced trainer Bob Baffert to put him into the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Saturday, for which entries were due and posts to be drawn on Tuesday.
Baffert said he would also run Roman Rosso, but that Mubtaahij would not run.
Eight were expected to be entered: Accelerate, Beach View, Dr. Dorr, Pavel, Prime Attraction, Roman Rosso, The Lieutenant, and Two Thirty Five.
Accelerate is the early favorite. He already has won the circuit's two other major 1 1/4-mile races for older runners, the Santa Anita Handicap and the Gold Cup at Santa Anita.
Joel Rosario rides Accelerate, replacing the injured Victor Espinoza.