Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Pacific Classic coming up light
DEL MAR, Calif. – The Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 19 may have only five starters, which would be the smallest field for the $1 million race since four ran in 2003.
As of Friday, the expected runners for the Pacific Classic were Accelerate, Arrogate, Collected, Curlin Road, and Donworth. Songbird, the twotime champion female, is nominated for the Pacific Classic, but trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said her next start has not been determined. The Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 26 is another possibility for Songbird.
Accelerate and Donworth were first and second in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 22, with Arrogate a shocking fourth as the 1-20 favorite. The San Diego Handicap was Arrogate’s first start since a win in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March.
Collected is unbeaten in three starts this year, including a 14-length win in the Grade 3 Precisionist Stakes at Santa Anita on June 24. Curlin Road won the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles here July 26.
The Pacific Classic has had fields ranging from eight to 12 starters since 2003.
The race is run at 1 1/4 miles. The winner will receive a fees paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic here Nov. 4.
On Friday, Curlin Road and Donworth had their final workouts before the Pacific Classic for trainer Doug O’Neill.
Curlin Road went six furlongs in 1:12.80 in company with Mopotism, who was second in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks on July 15. Mopotism, a candidate for the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 19, was timed in 1:12.60.
“They got to humming along pretty good,” O’Neill said.
Donworth worked alone and was timed in 1:14.20.
“He finished strong,” O’Neill said.
The Pacific Classic is the richest race of the summer meeting and one of four graded stakes run the weekend of Aug. 19-20.
The Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-old fillies on Aug. 19 is expected to include Madam Dancealot, winner of the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap on July 23, as well as Beau Recall, Blame It On Alphie, Dream Dancing, Kendra, and Pacific Wind.
Dream Dancing, winner of the Grade 3 Here comes the bride Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March, worked a half-mile in 48.88 on the Oklahoma turf course at Saratoga on Friday for trainer Mark Casse.
Trainer Richard Mandella said Friday that Paradise Woods will skip the Del Mar Oaks in favor of the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes on Aug. 27.
The Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf Aug. 19 will have a Casse-trained runner in Monster Bea, who won the 2016 Oceanside Stakes here when trained by Peter Miller. More recently, Monster Bea was ninth in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes at Woodbine on July 2.
Other candidates for the Del Mar Handicap include 2016 winner Ashleyluvssugar, Big John B, Hunt, Itsinthepost, and Up With the Birds. Hunt won the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes here July 22.
The winner of the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf here Nov. 4.
The Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf Aug. 20 is likely to attract
Midnight Storm, Bal a Bali, Blackjackcat, and Om. Bal a Bali has been the top turf miler in California this year, with wins in two Grade 1 races at Santa Anita – the Frank Kilroe Mile in March and the Shoemaker Mile in June.
California Chrome’s sister wins
R Sunday Surprise, a 3-yearold full sister to two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, won a turf maiden race for California-bred fillies and mares Thursday.
Ridden by Israel Ocampo, R Sunday Surprise ($16.40) closed from sixth in the final quartermile to win by a head over 2-1 favorite Halo Ahead. It was the eighth start of her career.
R Sunday Surprise was bred by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn ,who bred and raced California Chrome from his career debut in 2013 through the middle of 2015. California Chrome was the Horse of the Year in 2014, when he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Coburn later sold his portion of California Chrome before the popular horse began his 2016 campaign, which ended with another Horse of the Year title. California Chrome has since started a stud career.
R Sunday Surprise is owned by a partnership that includes Coburn’s Silver State Racing. After Thursday’s win, Coburn dedicated the victory to Lucky Pulpit, R Sunday Surprise’s late sire, and Larry and Marianne Williams, who owned Lucky Pulpit.
R Sunday Surprise was third in two of her five starts in 2016 when trained by Doug O’Neill. The filly was turned over to trainer Kristin Mulhall earlier this year and was third in her 2017 debut in June before finishing fifth here July 20.