Pacific Classic Stakes

The Pacific Classic Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one quarter miles on the dirt track scheduled annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $1,000,000.

Pacific Classic Stakes
Grade I race
LocationDel Mar Racetrack
Del Mar, California
Inaugurated1991
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
SponsorFanDuel Racing (since 2023)
WebsiteDel Mar
Race information
Distance1+1⁄4 miles
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds & older
WeightThree-year-olds: 118 lbs.
Older horses: 124 lbs.
Purse$1,000,000 (2021)
BonusesWinner automatic entry into Breeders' Cup Classic

History

The event was inaugurated on 10 August 1991 with a purse of US$1 million and immediately became the premier event of the racing season at Del Mar. The first running was won by the 1990 California Horse of the Year three year old Best Pal in a time of 1:594⁄5.[1] Best Pal would run two more times finishing third to Bertrando in 1993 and second to Tinners Way in 1994.[2]

The event was classified as Grade I for the third running in 1993 and has held that class since.[3]

Notable among the runnings of the race was the 1996 renewal that saw champion Cigar attempt to best Citation's mark of 16 straight victories, but fall to a shocking upset by the unheralded 39-1 Dare And Go and jockey Alex Solis.[4] Another exciting running saw Hall of Fame Jockey Julie Krone become the first female rider to win a million-dollar race when she guided Sid and Jenny Craig's undefeated Argentine bred Candy Ride to victory in track record time of 1:59:11.[5] It would be Candy Ride's last race as injury would force him to retire prematurely.

Del Mar switched its main racing surface from dirt to synthetic Polytrack in 2007 and the Pacific Classic winner that year was long-shot Student Council, who was handled by veteran Richard Migliore.[3]

Starting in 2008, the TVG Pacific Classic became a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, where the winner of the race would automatically earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic.[6] has become one of the top prizes for older horses racing in the United States each year.

In 2015 Beholder became the first filly or mare to win the event. She won by 8+1⁄4 lengths with a final time of 1:59.77, against an otherwise all-male field of nine other horses, including 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern.[7] She won in the third-fastest winning time in the history of the race,[8] and with the second-largest margin of victory at that time, behind the 2013 win of Game On Dude.[7] In 2018 Accelerate would win by an even greater margin of 12+1⁄2 lengths.[9]

In 2016 California Chrome became the first Kentucky Derby winner to win the event.[10]

Records
2006 winner Lava Man - first horse ever to take the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup, and the Grade I Pacific Classic Stakes in the same calendar year

Time record:

Largest Margin

Most wins:

  • 2 - Tinners Way (1994, 1995)
  • 2 - Skimming (2000, 2001)
  • 2 - Richard's Kid (2009, 2010)

Most wins by an owner:

  • 4 - Juddmonte Farms (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001)
  • 4 - Hronis Racing (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

  • 7 - Bob Baffert (1999, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2023)

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
2023 Arabian Knight 3 Flavien Prat Bob Baffert Zedan Racing 1+1⁄4 miles 2:03.19 $1,002,500 I [11]
2022 Flightline 4 Flavien Prat John W. Sadler Hronis Racing, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, & Siena Farm 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.28 $1,000,500 I [12]
2021 Tripoli 4 Tiago Pereira John W. Sadler Hronis Racing 1+1⁄4 miles 2:02.37 $1,002,000 I [13]
2020 Maximum Security 4 Abel Cedillo Bob Baffert Gary L & Mary E West, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith 1+1⁄4 miles 2:01.24 $500,500 I [14]
2019 Higher Power 4 Flavien Prat John W. Sadler Hronis Racing 1+1⁄4 miles 2:02.43 $1,001,755 I [15]
2018 Accelerate 5 Joel Rosario John W. Sadler Hronis Racing 1+1⁄4 miles 2:01.83 $1,000,690 I [9]
2017 Collected 4 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Speedway Stable 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.70 $1,000,690 I [16]
2016 California Chrome 5 Victor Espinoza Art Sherman California Chrome 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.13 $1,001,380 I [10]
2015 ƒ Beholder 5 Gary L. Stevens Richard E. Mandella Spendthrift Farm 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.77 $1,001,250 I [17]
2014 Shared Belief 3 Mike E. Smith Jerry Hollendorfer Jungle Racing, KMN Racing, Hollendorfer, Litt, Solis II & Todaro 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.28 $1,001,250 I [18]
2013 Game On Dude 6 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, Diamond Pride & B. Schiappa 1+1⁄4 miles †2:00.69 $1,001,750 I [19]
2012 Dullahan 3 Joel Rosario Dale L. Romans Donegal Racing 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.54 $1,000,000 I [20]
2011 Acclamation 5 Pat Valenzuela Donald Warren Peter & Mary Hilvers and E. W. & Judy Johnston 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.61 $1,000,000 I [21]
2010 Richard's Kid 5 Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Zabeel Racing International 1+1⁄4 miles 2:03.27 $1,000,000 I [22]
2009 Richard's Kid 4 Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Arnold Zetcher 1+1⁄4 miles 2:02.39 $1,000,000 I [23]
2008 Go Between 5 Garrett K. Gomez William I. Mott Peter Vegso 1+1⁄4 miles 2:01:18 $1,000,000 I [24]
2007 Student Council 5 Richard Migliore Vladimir Cerin Millennium Farms 1+1⁄4 miles 2:07.29 $1,120,000 I [25]
2006 Lava Man 5 Corey Nakatani Doug F. O'Neill STD Stable & Jason Wood 1+1⁄4 miles 2:01.62 $1,000,000 I [26]
2005 Borrego 4 Garrett K. Gomez C. Beau Greely J. Kelly, B. Scott, Ralls & Foster 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.71 $1,000,000 I [27]
2004 Pleasantly Perfect 6 Jerry D. Bailey Richard E. Mandella Diamond A Racing Corp 1+1⁄4 miles 2:01.17 $1,000,000 I [28]
2003 Candy Ride (ARG) 4 Julie Krone Ron McAnally Sidney & Jenny Craig 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.11 $980,000 I [5]
2002 § Came Home 3 Mike E. Smith J. Paco Gonzalez William S. Farish III, John B. Goodman, Trudy McCaffery & John A. Toffan 1+1⁄4 miles 2:01.45 $1,000,000 I [29]
2001 Skimming 5 Garrett K. Gomez Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.96 $1,000,000 I [30]
2000 Skimming 4 Garrett K. Gomez Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1+1⁄4 miles 2:01.22 $1,000,000 I [31]
1999 General Challenge 3 David R. Flores Bob Baffert Golden Eagle Farm 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.40 $1,180,000 I [32]
1998 Free House 4 Chris McCarron J. Paco Gonzalez John A. Toffan & Trudy McCaffery 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.20 $1,000,000 I [33]
1997 Gentlemen (ARG) 5 Gary L. Stevens Richard E. Mandella Randall Dee Hubbard 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.40 $1,375,000 I [34]
1996 Dare and Go 4 Alex O. Solis Richard E. Mandella La Presle Farm 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.80 $1,500,000 I [4]
1995 Tinners Way 5 Eddie Delahoussaye Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.60 $1,000,000 I [35]
1994 Tinners Way 4 Eddie Delahoussaye Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.40 $1,000,000 I [36]
1993 § Bertrando 4 Gary L. Stevens Robert J. Frankel 505 Farms & Ed Nahem 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.55 $1,000,000 I [37]
1992 Missionary Ridge (GB) 5 Kent J. Desormeaux Robert J. Frankel Peter Wall 1+1⁄4 miles 2:00.80 $1,225,000 [38]
1991 Best Pal 3 Pat Valenzuela Gary F. Jones Golden Eagle Farm 1+1⁄4 miles 1:59.80 $1,000,000 [1]

Legend:
  All Weather Track   Dirt
Notes:
§ Ran as part of an entry
ƒ Filly or mare
† Game On Dude's 2013 actual winning time according to "Trakus time" is 1:59.26.[39]

See also

References
  1. "1991 Pacific Classic Stakes Listed - (race 3)". Equibase. 10 August 1991. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. "PACIFIC CLASSIC STAKES - DEL MAR, CA". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. "$1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  4. "1996 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 6)". Equibase. 10 August 1996. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. "2003 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 24 August 2003. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  6. "Breeders' Cup Challenge". Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  7. Balan, Jeremy (August 22, 2015). "Beholder Blows Away Pacific Classic Foes". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  8. Zieralski, Ed (August 22, 2015). "Beholder romps in Pacific Classic". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  9. "2018 $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  10. "2016 $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  11. "2023 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  12. "2022 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  13. "2021 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  14. "2020 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 22 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  15. "2019 $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  16. "2017 $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  17. "2015 $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  18. "2014 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  19. "2013 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 25 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  20. "2012 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  21. "2011 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  22. "2010 Pacific Classic S. presented by TVG Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  23. "2009 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 6 September 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  24. "2008 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 24 August 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  25. "2007 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  26. "2006 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 20 August 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  27. "2005 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 21 August 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  28. "2004 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 22 August 2004. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  29. "2002 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 25 August 2002. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  30. "2001 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 19 August 2001. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  31. "2000 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 August 2000. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  32. "1999 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 29 August 1999. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  33. "1998 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 15 August 1998. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  34. "1997 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 9 August 1997. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  35. "1995 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 4)". Equibase. 13 August 1995. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  36. "1994 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 4)". Equibase. 13 August 1994. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  37. "1993 Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 3)". Equibase. 21 August 1993. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  38. "1992 Pacific Classic Stakes Listed - (race 4)". Equibase. 30 August 1992. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  39. Milkowski, Craig (27 August 2013). "Questioning final time of 2013 Pacific Classic". TimeformUS.
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