Big names eye Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – The potential field for the biggest race of the Del Mar meet, the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 19, is ripe with intrigue, as Arrogate is still intended for the race, and the filly Songbird has been nominated. It would mark Songbird’s first start against males should she compete.

Both also are being considered for races at Saratoga, and there is the possibility that one will run here and the other at Saratoga. But until all decisions are made, every move will be analyzed, with perhaps jockey Mike Smith drawing the most interest since he rides both and certainly would prefer they not meet.

Bob Baffert, Arrogate’s trainer, said he intends to make the Pacific Classic with Arrogate, but he left open the possibility of heading to Saratoga for the Woodward Stakes on Sept. 2 if he deems Arrogate needs more time following his shockingly dull try in the San Diego Handicap on July 22.

“As long as he works well, he’ll run here,” Baffert said. “If I feel he needs another week to get primed, it would be the Woodward. That’s the only difference. Right now, I want to run here. I’d rather run here than ship.”

One of the key allures of the Pacific Classic is that it mirrors this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, a 1 1/4-mile race at Del Mar, which hosts the Breeders’ Cup for the first time on Nov. 3-4. Arrogate last year won an allowance race at Del Mar, then shipped to Saratoga and set a track record in the Travers.

Arrogate won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, and the Classic remains his main year-end goal. Baffert said that no matter whether Arrogate runs in the Pacific Classic or the Woodward, he would not have another race prior to the Classic. Last year, Baffert trained Arrogate straight into the Classic after his win in the Travers.

Baffert also said he was strongly considering Collected for the Pacific Classic. Collected has won all three of his starts this year since returning from a layoff of more than 10 months.

Nominations to the Pacific Classic do not close until Aug. 10, but already Songbird has been nominated.

“She’s the first to nominate,” Del Mar’s stakes coordinator, Chris Merz, said Sunday morning.

Songbird has won 13 of 14 starts and two Eclipse Awards. She has won both of her starts this year.

Dan Ward, the local assistant to Songbird’s trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, said Songbird was being nominated to both the Pacific Classic and the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign for older females at Saratoga on Aug. 26. Songbird won twice at Saratoga last summer.

Different paths to BC Sprint

Both Ransom the Moon and Drefong came out of an eventful Bing Crosby Stakes on Saturday in good order, their trainers said Sunday morning at Del Mar, but they likely will take a different path toward a potential rematch in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint here on Nov. 4.

Ransom the Moon won the Grade 1 Crosby and with it earned a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint via the Win and You’re In program. Trainer Phil D’Amato said Ransom the Moon would make his next start Oct. 7 in the Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, a race, like the Crosby and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, that is six furlongs.

“Between six and seven furlongs is his wheelhouse,” D’Amato said.

D’Amato said Ransom the Moon “got lucky at the top of the lane” that he had a clear path when Drefong drifted out, bothering Roy H and Moe Candy.

Drefong – who was making his first start since winning last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the Eclipse Award for top male sprinter – lost jockey Mike Smith soon after the start when he veered sharply left toward the temporary rail at the point where the clubhouse turn joins the backstretch.

“Everybody came back fine. There’s a million reasons to get beat. That’s one of them,” Bob Baffert, Drefong’s trainer, said Sunday morning. “It could have been worse. All’s good.”

Baffert said Drefong would be strongly considered for the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego on Aug. 26 at Saratoga. Drefong won the King’s Bishop there last year, a race, like the Forego, at seven furlongs.

Baffert is planning on having West Coast in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers, and American Anthem in the Grade 1, $500,000 Allen Jerkens Memorial – formerly known as the King’s Bishop – also on Aug. 26 at Saratoga.

The incident with Drefong has prompted Del Mar officials to look into ways to prevent horses from trying to make that gap. Baffert said Del Mar needs “something with more substance and that goes farther out.”

“What they have is pretty flimsy,” Baffert said.

Tom Robbins, Del Mar’s executive vice president of racing, said Sunday morning that he had the laborers at the track “looking into it.”

“It’s been that way for a long time, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved,” Robbins said.

BARBARA D. LIVINGSTON Songbird, who has won 13 of 14 starts, including both of her starts this year, might face males in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic.