Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races at Del Mar August 24: Pacific Classic, Del Mar Mile, Pat O’Brien, Rancho Bernardo Handicap
Posted on Thursday, August 21st, 2008
The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win & You’re In” series of horse races continues at Del Mar August 24, Sunday, with the $1-million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at 1 1/4 miles for 3-year-olds and up, the $400,000 Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2) at 1 mile on turf for 3-year-olds and up; the $300,000 Pat O’Brien Handicap (G2) at 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up; and the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) at 6 1/2 furlongs for 3-year-old and up fillies and mares.
Winners of these 4 horse races will automatically become part of the Breeders’ Cup field for the corresponding divisional race in the two-day, fourteen-race, $25-million Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held October 24-25 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park.
Favoritism Goes To Go Between In Pacific Classic
Go Between, the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday’s Pacific Classic Stakes on Del Mar’s main track, is a study in consistency over the past year, and a good bit of that is the result of an obvious fondness for synthetic surfaces.
The 5-year-old son of Point Given, Go Between, has been worse than 2nd only once in his last 8 starts. Five of those horse races–and all four this year–have come on synthetic surfaces, three of them in Southern California.
Go Between’s love affair with synthetic surfaces came as an afterthought to his regular training for a grass race at Arlington Park in September of 2007. Former jockey Keith Allen, who exercises horses for race horse trainer Bill Mott’s Churchill Downs barn, told Assistant Trainer Kenny McCarthy that while the horse galloped over Arlington’s Polytrack, he seemed to feel really good.
So, after that grass race, where he finished second, and another at Louisiana Downs, it was decided to give him a try on synthetics. He was entered in Keeneland‘s Fayette Handicap (G3) October 27 and he came home a neck winner. The horse went back on the turf for Calder‘s Tropical Park Turf Handicap December 1, where he finished sixth.
It’s been synthetic ever since. Go Between won the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita in January, and then finished second in the Santa Anita Handicap, the Ben Ali Handicap at Keeneland in April and the Hollywood Gold Cup June 28. While not a winner in those races, he did finish ahead of Pacific Classic foes Awesome Gem in the Big ‘Cap and Student Council in the Hollywood Gold Cup, won in gate-to-wire fashion by Mast Track, also a Pacific Classic entrant.
McCarthy gives the main credit to race horse trainer Bill Mott’s trademark patience with his horses. “He knew he was good,” McCarthy said. “He sent him to me in Kentucky because he thought he might do well on the Midwest circuit and could build his confidence.”
McCarthy expects Go Between to be in his normal spot behind the first flight of horses in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic. “We’re not going to change his running style at all,” McCarthy said. “And Garrett [jockey Garrett Gomez] knows him very well.”
The race horse Go Between went through the paddock this morning on his way to galloping 1 1/4 miles. He’ll school in the paddock this afternoon in the 3rd race.
In something of an uncharacteristic move, race horse trainer Craig Dollase sent Awesome Gem out for a 3-furlong blowout this morning in 35.20 with regular exercise rider Mario Uribe up. Awesome Gem worked in tandem with Zetterberg, who was given the same time.
Of the work, Craig Dollase didn’t think it was so unusual for him to call for a blowout following what was considered the final work last Saturday before the Pacific Classic. “I do what I think I need to do,” he said, not expanding on why he thought he needed to work the horse. “It’s a matter of instincts. Sometimes you decide to call an audible; you have to follow your gut feeling.
“I just hope we can overcome the 1 hole [post position].”
The trainer was happy with the work, and the horse seemed even happier as he cooled out.
Joining Go Between in schooling sessions will be McCann’s Mojave, who galloped 1 1/2 miles this morning, in the second race, and Student Council, who galloped an easy mile, in the fifth.
Del Mar’s Pacific Classic Stakes field of race horses with jockeys and weight of 124 pounds in post position order:
- Awesome Gem under jockey Tyler Baze
- Mostacolli Mort under jockey Victor Espinoza
- Zappa under jockey Garcia Alan
- Surf Cat under jockey David Flores
- Barcola under jockey Corey Nakatani
- Go Between under jockey Garrett Gomez
- Well Armed under jockey Aaron Gryder
- Mast Track under jockey Rafael Bejarano
- Delosvientos under jockey Joel Rosario
- Student Council under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan
- McCann’s Mojave under jockey Julio Garcia
The Pacific Classic Stakes is race 10 in Del Mar’s August 24 card. Pacific Classic post time is 6:30 pm Central.
As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, the Pacific Classic winner will automatically become one of the Breeders’ Cup horses for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at Santa Anita.
Four In Del Mar Mile Handicap Could Be Favored
Testament to the competitive field of 11 set for Sunday’s Del Mar Mile Handicap on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course at Del Mar is the small spread among the top four on the morning line issued last night at the post position draw.
Multiple graded stakes winner Daytona was made the favorite at 5-2, but right behind at 3-1 are Whatsthescript and Storm Military, second and third in Del Mar’s Eddie Read Handicap (G1). At 7-2 is Eddie Read winner Monzante.
The Del Mar Mile Handicap field of race horses with jockeys and weight in post position order:
- Porto Santo under jockey Tyler Baze, 114 lbs.
- Dark Islander under jockey Joel Rosario, 114 lbs.
- Storm Military under jockey David Flores, 115 lbs.
- Whatsthescript under jockey Garrett Gomez, 117 lbs.
- Bold Chieftain under jockey Russell Baze, 118 lbs.
- Global Hunter under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr, 114 lbs.
- One Union under jockey Victor Espinoza, 117 lbs.
- Daytona under jockey Alex Solis, 121 lbs.
- Stoneside under jockey Mike Smith, 116 lbs.
- Monzante under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 118 lbs.
- Willow O Wisp under jockey Brice Blanc, 111 lbs.
The Del Mar Mile Handicap is race 9 in Del Mar’s August 24 card. Pacific Classic post time is 6:00 pm Central.
As part of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Challenge, the Del Mar Mile winner will automatically become one of the Breeders’ Cup entries for the Breeders’ Cup Mile on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.
Race Horse Trainer Bob Baffert Expects Big Midnight Lute Effort In Pat O’Brien Handicap
“Midnight Lute looks good, he’s training terrific, he’s healthy and he’s ready to go.”
That’s race horse trainer Bob Baffert talking, and he means every word of it, not in a cocky way, just matter-of-factly. That could mean trouble for the rest of the field of 12 in Sunday’s Pat O’Brien Handicap at 7 furlongs on the main track of Del Mar.
Midnight Lute was made the 9-5 morning-line favorite at last night’s post-position draw.
The 2007 Eclipse Award sprint champion and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in the slop at Monmouth Park will be making his first start of the year and has an impressive string of workouts on Del Mar’s main track, including three bullet works and a record-breaking 7-furlong work in 1:21.60 August 7. It won’t go into the record books because it came in a work instead of a race.
The 5-year-old son of 1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet, Midnight Lute, came back on this past Monday to drill 5 furlongs in 58.20, best of 84 at the distance.
Another entrant coming off a long layoff is Hewitts, who last raced May 3 in the 7-furlong Churchill Downs Handicap (G2), where he finished third. Race horse trainer Bob Hess Jr. isn’t certain the horse will go in the Pat O’Brien, though he said, “We got a great draw, and we’ll see how the pace scenario might play out. If we can make an easy lead or if we think he can be comfortable out in the open, we’ll go. If not, we’ll run in the Pirate’s Bounty [Wednesday, September 3].”
Del Mar’s Pat O’Brien Handicap field of race horses with jockeys and weight in post position order:
- Decado under jockey Alex Solis, 113 lbs.
- Rebellion under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 118 lbs.
- Midnight Lute under jockey Garrett Gomez, 122 lbs.
- Lewis Michael under jockey Rene Douglas, 118 lbs.
- Arson Squad under jockey David Flores, 116 lbs.
- Barbecue Eddie under jockey Aaron Gryder, 115 lbs.
- Doppio under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr, 114 lbs.
- In Summation under jockey Corey Nakatani, 121 lbs.
- Tall Texan under jockey Joseph Talamo, 113 lbs.
- Hewitts under jockey Victor Espinoza, 114 lbs.
- Hurry Up Austin under jockey Jon Court, 114 lbs.
- How’s Your Halo under jockey Tyler Baze, 116 lbs.
The Pat O’Brien Handicap is race 8 in Del Mar’s August 24 card. Pat O’Brien post time is 5:30 pm Central.
As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, the Pat O’Brien winner will automatically become one of the Breeders’ Cup horses for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.
Headley’s Magnificience Heads Rancho Bernardo Handicap
Three-time winner Magnificience, trained by Bruce Headley, rules as a slight 3-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday’s Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar’s main track. Dearest Trickski is second choice at 7-2.
Del Mar’s Rancho Bernardo Handicap field of fillies and mares with jockeys and weight in post position order:
- Silky Smooth under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 116 lbs.
- Makor’s Love under jockey Julio Garcia, 107 lbs.
- Magnificience under jockey David Flores, 118 lbs.
- La Tee under jockey Tyler Baze, 114 lbs.
- Tiz Elemental under jockey Joel Rosario, 120 lbs.
- Lethal Heat under jockey Alex Solis, 115 lbs.
- Dearest Trickski under jockey Mike Smith, 120 lbs.
- Society Hostess under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr, 117 lbs.
- Spring Awakening under jockey Garrett Gomez, 112 lbs.
- Highland Torree under jockey Martin Garcia, 113 lbs.
The Rancho Bernardo Handicap is race 7 in Del Mar’s August 24 card. Rancho Bernardo post time is 5:00 pm Central.
As part of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Challenge, the Rancho Bernardo winner will automatically become part of the Breeders’ Cup field for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on October 24 at Santa Anita.
Horse racing news edited from www.dmtc.com.
Tags: Arson Squad, Awesome Gem, Barbecue Eddie, Barcola, Bold Chieftain, Dark Islander, Daytona, Dearest Trickski, Decado, Delosvientos, Doppio, Global Hunter, Go Between, Hewitts, Highland Torree, How's Your Halo, Hurry Up Austin, In Summation, La Tee, Lethal Heat, Lewis Michael, Magnificience, Makor's Love, Mast Track, McCann's Mojave, Midnight Lute, Monzante, Mostacolli Mort, One Union, Porto Santo, Rebellion, Silky Smooth, Society Hostess, Spring Awakening, Stoneside, Storm Military, Student Council, Surf Cat, Tall Texan, Tiz Elemental, Well Armed, Whatsthescript, Willow O Wisp, Zappa
"Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races at Del Mar August 24: Pacific Classic, Del Mar Mile, Pat O’Brien, Rancho Bernardo Handicap" was posted on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 at 9:51 pm and is filed under Del Mar Race Track, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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