In what should be on of the best race cards this summer horse racing season, the 2021 Pacific Classic highlights Saturday's card at Del Mar Racetrack in Southern California. This Grade 1 stakes race has a total prize purse of $750,000 as a "win and you are in" qualifier for this year's Breeders' Cup Classic at that same track in early November.
There are a total of five major graded events on the card at Del Mar this Saturday. The Del Mar Handicap on turf for Thoroughbreds three and older is also part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series as a "win and you are in" event for the BC Longines Turf.
The other three major stakes events this Saturday are the Del Mar Mile, Del Mar Oaks and the Torrey Pines Stakes. The total prize money up for grabs in these five races totals $1.75 million.
As part of my weekly horse racing coverage for the popular sports betting site ScoresandStats.com, I broke down the nine-horse field for this year's Pacific Classic to come up with my top trifecta play.
This is a tough call with a deep field of contenders. At least four of these horses have a legitimate shot to win this year's Pacific Classic. Yet, cream still tends to rise to the top in one of the biggest stakes races of the year. Below is my official trifecta play.
Top Choice
Realistically,
there are four entries in this race with a chance to win. I decided to stretch
the odds a bit with Dr. Post as my top choice to win. Trained by Todd Pletcher,
this four-year old Kentucky-bred colt will break from the No. 3 post with Joel
Rosario as his jockey.
Sired by
Quality Road, he has been opened as a 4-1 third-favorite on the morning line.
However, I was more than impressed with his recent victory on July 17 in the
Grade 3 Monmouth Cup. He covered the 1 1/8 miles on dirt in 1:47.53. Earlier
this year, he won the one mile Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont with a
winning time of 1:35.14.
Second
Choice
Trainer John
Shirreff’s Express Train has been opened as a 3-1 favorite to win this race. I
bumped him to my second choice breaking from the No. 5 post position with
jockey Juan Hernandez on board.
This is another
four-year old colt that looked sharp his last time out with a victory in the
Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 17. He posted a winning time of
1:43.17 over 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. The son of Union Rags has now finished
in the money in each of his last six graded events.
Third Choice
Rounding out my
trifecta play for this year’s Pacific Classic is Royal Ship as a 7-2
second-favorite on the betting board. After placing third in the San Diego
Handicap, he will start this race from the fourth post. Trained by Richard
Mandella, veteran jockey Mike Smith will get the ride.
The son of
Midshipman is a five-year old gelding that was bred in Brazil. He has finished
in the money in his last three races this year starting with a victory in the
Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on April 17.
2021 Pacific Classic Preview & Trifecta Pick