Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Pacific Classic

Aug 29, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Nysos wins the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park (Photo by Benoit Photo)

An outstanding field of eight will run 1 1/4 miles over the Del Mar dirt in Saturday’s prestigious $1 million Pacific Classic S. (G1). The centerpiece of the local meeting at the picturesque venue attracted three of the top horses that are currently in training in what promises to be a memorable contest.

The superb Nysos has won five of his six lifetime runs to date and finished a head back in second in his lone career setback. Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert, the four-year-old is a lightly raced colt at this stage of his development, but has looked especially good this season, led by a strong win in the San Diego H. (G2) on this course in his most recent effort. The $550,000 purchase is a son of top sire Nyquist, who will be traveling 1 1/4 miles for the initial time, but all indications are that the Kentucky-bred will be up to the task at the demanding distance. He will have top rider Flavien Prat in the saddle, and Nysos will begin to move into contention as the field turns for home on Saturday.

Todd Pletcher’s Fierceness was a champion at two, a standout Grade 1 winner at three, and he has run well while facing top competition in 2025. A son of City of Light, the four-year-old was second in his lone prior try at Del Mar when a fine runner-up in the lucrative Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at this venue in November. The ultra-talented bay has good speed early and also possesses a strong closing run late, and he was assigned the rail to save ground in this race, as well. His regular rider, John Velazquez, will come in to guide $4.5 million earner.

JOURNALISM WINS THE PREAKNESS! 🏆🌻

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— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 17, 2025

Grade 1 victor Journalism went through all legs of the Triple Crown in the spring and held up especially well, with a Preakness S. (G1) victory sandwiched between second-place results in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont S. (G1). The superb son of Curlin captured his only previous run at Del Mar with a win here in November, and in his last performance, the three-year-old rallied gamely in the final stages of the Haskell S. (G1) at Monmouth Park to secure a fifth graded stakes tally. He will be unhurried in the early portion of the Pacific Classic before unleashing his substantial late burst in the stretch with jockey Umberto Rispoli riding.

Expert Pick:

An exacta with #4 Nysos on top of #1 Fierceness and #6 Journalism in the 2025 Pacific Classic Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.