Tripoli the up-and-comer in Pacific Classic

In his stakes debut, Tripoli rallied wide to finish a half-length behind winner Express Train in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 17 at Del Mar. The narrow second-place finish has led owners Pete and Kosta Hronis and trainer John Sadler to plan a start for Tripoli in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 21.

The $1 million Pacific Classic is a race they are quite familiar with. Hronis and Sadler won the Pacific Classic in 2018 with Accelerate and the following year with Higher Power.

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Tripoli seemed far from a Pacific Classic candidate as recently as late winter, when he was in the midst of an eight-race losing streak in allowance races on turf. The streak ended with a win in an allowance race at a mile on turf on May 1 at Santa Anita and was followed by a game half-length win in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on June 19 in his first start on dirt.

“I think he’s on the upgrade,” Sadler said.

Friday at Del Mar, Tripoli worked six furlongs in 1:12.80. Sadler timed the 4-year-old colt in a slightly quicker 1:12.40, with a gallop-out of 1:24.80 for seven furlongs.

“He seems to be thriving down here,” Sadler said.

The San Diego Handicap was run at 1 1/16 miles, and the Pacific Classic is run at 1 1/4 miles. The longer distance will be a test, Sadler admits.

Tiago Pereira, who has been aboard Tripoli in his last three starts, will have the mount.

The Pacific Classic has a field of eight probable starters, led by Express Train and Royal Ship, who was third in the San Diego Handicap.

Earlier this year, Royal Ship won the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles and was second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles, both at Santa Anita.

Other expected starters in the Pacific Classic are Classier, Cupid’s Claws, Dr Post, Sheriff Brown, and Tizamagician.

Sheriff Brown, seventh in the San Diego, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds on Friday and will be an outsider in the Pacific Classic.

The winner of the Pacific Classic receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.