July 25, 2015

A field of epic proportions assembled at DMR on Saturday afternoon for the annual running of the Grade I Pacific Classic and another superstar added their name to the list of winners as Outward Bound, multiple Grade I placed this year and coming off a big run at BEL, shipped across the country for the powerful Eastern Equine to annex this ten-furlong event by nearly a length. A son of multiple Grade I winner Out Of The Park, by a stakes-placed mare in Uchacha who has already produced Grade I winner Hallelujah, he had all the makings of a Classic contender after winning the OP Handicap and against this field, came up the fence to record a career-best equaling 102-speed rating while pushing his seasonal bankroll to more than $1,300.000 from six starts.

Suns Out Guns Out (15.55) had his running shoes on early in the Pacific Classic and sprinted to the front in the first furlong, easily clearing George Washington (8.00) and Graceful Shadow (8.35) to establish the lead. In front of the stands for the first time, those three had separated themselves with Broomsticks Camelot (10.15) two-wide and many of the favourites near the back of the pack, including No Trippin (*1.45) and Phelps (6.70) who were side-by-side. Suns Out Guns Out was still clear on the lead going into the first turn with George Washington right on his heels and Hyper Silver (8.10) inching up the rail in third and with the strung out field rolling through the first half-mile in 47.10, it was clear that fractions would take their toll on the early leaders. The margin up front was suddenly 2.5-lengths as Suns Out Guns Out sprinted away from his rivals and as Graceful Shadow and Broomsticks Camelot stalled, it left Hyper Silver boxed in and the backfield with a lot to do through six-furlongs in 1:10.89. Enough room finally opened up around the far turn for Hyper Silver to start his run at the lead as the leader swung out into the lane and while George Washington angled inside, Phelps came rolling wide and looked to close in with his powerful late kick. But with two-furlongs to go, the forgotten horse was Outward Bound (8.60) and after sitting the dream trip inside, he found room inside of Hyper Silver and rocketed into contention, with Suns Out Guns Out still a length and a half to the good but looking quite vulnerable as well. A mad dash to the final saw everyone give their all and as the leader clung to the lead, Hyper Silver came with his rally outside with Graceful Shadow wider and Phelps wider still but the inside rally of Outward Bound got him to the wire first, with those three rivals rounding out the top four in successive fashion. Suns Out Guns Out hung around in midpack but found ten-furlongs too far while Masquerade City never got involved from his wide draw but somehow managed to finish up near the rail. No Trippin disappointed after failing to make any run while George Washington and Broomsticks Camelot had their chances but came up empty in the lane and wound up five-lengths in back of the going-away victor.

Since being purchased for $25.000 more than two years ago, Outward Bound has only finished off the board once and that was one of the weirdest efforts you could imagine so the fact that he finally has a Grade I victory to his credentials, in the best fashion possible, is no surprise. Guaranteed a spot in the BC Classic starting gate, there is little for him to do but await the post position draw and either the Grade I Awesome Again, or the newly named Lukas Classic closer to KEE, would be the ideal spots for him in his final prep before a chance at a Horse Of The Year title.

Congratulations goes out to owner Eastern Equine and their five-year-old Outward Bound, a going-away winner of the Grade I Pacific Classic at DMR!

Prediction                         Outward Bound / Phelps / No Trippin

Winner                               Outward Bound

                                              Five-year-old chestnut horse

                                              Out Of The Park-Uchacha (Swarley)

Owner                                 Eastern Equine

Time                                    47.10, 1:10.89, 1:35.45, 2:01.01

Overall

Outward Bound                8.60 far back early, inside rally, powerful run

Hyper Silver                       8.10 stalked inside, pressed late, caught

Phelps                                  6.70 wide late rally, minor award

Graceful Shadow               8.35 pressed, evened out late

Suns Out Guns Out           15.55 set wicked pace, faded

Masquerade City                15.15 even run

No Trippin                           *1.45 no late factor

George Washington          8.00 stalked, tired

Broomsticks Camelot        10.15 no momentum when asked

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade I