The 2019 Pacific Classic Study Guide

Aug 16, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A very good field of 10 will travel 1 1/4 miles on the Del Mar dirt in Saturday’s $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) . The highlight of the summer meeting boasts a quartet of millionaires in the “Win & You’re In” event, which offers a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on November 3.

Here is the field:

---

War Story Career Racing Stats

35 Starts
7 Wins
6 Place
5 Show
Total Career Earnings: $2,885,305

Top BRIS Speed rating (109) for fourth-placing in 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)

Owner: Imaginary Stables or Ellis
Breeder: Jack Swain III (KY)
Trainer: Jorge Navarro
Jockey: Tiago Pereira

Sire: Northern Afleet
Dam: Belle Watling
Color: Chestnut

Gelding was a game winner of the Monmouth Cup (G3) most recently and draws well on the rail for conditioner Jorge Navarro. Kentucky-bred chestnut earned his lifetime best BRIS Speed figure when an excellent fourth in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar, and he will bring some pace to the race. The seven-year-old has a realistic chance with his top performance.

---

Quip Career Racing Stats

9 Starts
4 Wins
2 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $1,054,100

Top BRIS Speed rating (104) in Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) second

Owner: WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International and SF Racing LLC
Breeder: WinStar Farm LLC (KY)
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Sire: Distorted Humor
Dam: Princess Ash
Color: Bay

Two-time Grade 2 winner was a neck second in a deep edition of the Stephen Foster (G2) in his most recent outing and has room for improvement here. The lightly raced colt comes in fresh with some nice morning drills as he aims for his initial Grade 1 tally. Four-year-old Kentucky-bred will be right there late with his best under Florent Geroux.

---

Pavel Career Racing Stats

17 Starts
3 Wins
1 Place
2 Show
Total Career Earnings: $2,090,000

Top BRIS Speed rating (110) in Suburban Stakes (G2) third

Owner: Reddam Racing LLC
Breeder: Brereton Jones and WinStar Farm LLC (KY)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Mario Gutierrez

Sire: Creative Cause
Dam: Mons Venus
Color: Gray/Roan

Globetrotter was a distant second in the race in 2018 and will hope to go one better this season. Five-year-old son of Creative Cause exits a solid third in the Suburban (G2) in preparation of this one, and his Dubai World Cup (G1) fourth this spring proved his overall class. Regular rider Mario Gutierrez has the assignment.

---

For the Top Career Racing Stats

7 Starts
2 Wins
1 Place
2 Show
Total Career Earnings: $160,428

Top BRIS Speed rating (91) in Cougar III Handicap (G3) third

Owner: RRR Racing Inc.
Breeder: El Turf (ARG)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia

Sire: Equal Stripes
Dam: Felicitas One
Color: Bay

Longshot is winless from a pair of starts since coming to the United States including a distant third in the Cougar III Handicap (G3) last out. Group 1 hero from the Bob Baffert barn could move forward in his third appearance of the season, but the colt will need huge improvement to challenge this cast inside the final furlong.

---

Seeking the Soul Career Racing Stats

27 Starts
7 Wins
6 Place
7 Show
Total Career Earnings: $3,335,802

Top BRIS Speed rating (108) in 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) second

Owner: Charles E. Fipke
Breeder: Charles E. Fipke (KY)
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: John Velazquez

Sire: Perfect Soul
Dam: Seeking the Title
Color: Bay

This classy six-year-old was a game winner of the Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs in advance of his Del Mar debut. The Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) runner-up has trained sharply to ready for this storied race and brings along jockey John Velazquez, too. Kentucky-bred bay will be doing his best work from off the pace in just his second try at 10 panels.

---

Higher Power Career Racing Stats

12 Starts
4 Wins
1 Place
4 Show
Total Career Earnings: $200,648

Top BRIS Speed rating (96) in Fair Grounds allowance victory

Owner: Hronis Racing LLC
Breeder: Pin Oak Stud LLC (KY)
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Sire: Medaglia d’Oro
Dam: Alternate
Color: Bay

This four-year-old is aggressively placed coming off a pair of solid turf runs in the Golden State, including a second-place result in the Wicker Handicap at Del Mar. One of two in the field for John Sadler, the well-bred colt is cut out to run all day and could be a sneaky exotics type at big odds. The decision to pick up pilot Flavin Prat was an excellent one.

---

Tenfold Career Racing Stats

11 Starts
4 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $901,890

Top BRIS Speed rating (102) in 2018 Belmont Stakes (G1) fifth-placing

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Mike Smith

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Temptress
Color: Dark Bay

This talented but inconsistent colt was never involved in the Stephen Foster (G2) when a non-threatening ninth for Steve Asmussen. The dark bay son of Curlin did rally to take the Pimlico Special (G2) two prior at this distance, and he has trained steadily in preparation of his West Coast debut. The late runner will have Mike Smith, who is one of the best big-money riders in the sport, in the stirrups for the initial time.

---

Campaign Career Racing Stats

10 Starts
5 Wins
1 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $394,753

Top BRIS Speed rating (103) in Cougar III Handicap (G3) win

Owner: Woodford Racing LLC
Breeder: Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds (KY)
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Arania
Color: Bay

Dangerous son of Curlin has earned triple-digit BRIS Late Pace numbers in all five outings since arriving in the John Sadler barn. The improving colt showed his affinity for the local surface with a strong tally in the Cougar III Handicap (G3) last out, and any improvement will make this one very tough in the closing stages of the race. Kentucky-bred will be rallying late under the guidance of Rafael Bejarano.

---

Mongolian Groom Career Racing Stats

13 Starts
2 Wins
2 Place
2 Show
Total Career Earnings: $249,141

Top BRIS Speed rating (103) in San Diego Handicap (G2) second

Owner: Mongolian Stable
Breeder: Calumet Farm (KY)
Trainer: Enebish Ganbat
Jockey: Abel Cedillo

Sire: Hightail
Dam: Bourbonesque
Color: Dark Bay

Interesting longshot was a sharp second in the San Diego Handicap (G2) on this surface last out in a second performance since adding blinkers. Gelded four-year-old is still eligible for a second-level allowance condition, but he has run well in the big races in California and could get a piece with a slight move forward in the Pacific Classic.

---

Draft Pick Career Racing Stats

11 Starts
3 Wins
2 Place
3 Show
Total Career Earnings: $307,480

Top BRIS Speed rating (102) in San Diego Handicap (G2) third

Owner: C R K Stable LLC
Breeder: Hinkle Farms (KY)
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Jockey: Joe Talamo

Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Firehouse Red
Color: Bay

Grade 3 victor gets a tough assignment from the widest post in the field for trainer Peter Eurton. The talented son of Candy Ride had a nice prep for this when a good third in the San Diego Handicap (G2), and he does possess the early speed to overcome this dreaded post. The colt will be making his third run of 2019 and has a lot of room for improvement with Joe Talamo on board.