8/21/21

   11   DMR     Pacific Classic (GI) [BC]

$1,000.000    3yo&Up     1 1/4m  Dirt       3yo 120 lbs     Older 124 lbs

You know my line…  big races, big purses, big horses, and the Pacific Classic (GI) checks all of the boxes.  We have a fantastic field of eleven set to go the classic mile and a quarter distance and we get a bit of everything here, including a filly.  I’m going a bit more traditional and taking Mb Stables and Having A Blast as the top choice.  He just never seems to run a bad race, was third in this race last year and has been sharp this season – just about everything you could ask for.  I’ll give Gran Z a big look to be in the middle of things today.  He’s another that just goes out race after race, facing the best there is, and brings home money… every single time.  The third spot could go to a number of horses but I’ll take Big Bang Raj as he’s been tough going longer, sheds four pounds, and seems to like the surface. 

This should be a humdinger, so don’t miss it!

Here’s The Field –  

The struggles have been real as this one is still looking for his first win of the season and has only been on the board in one race, a third in an Alw race at FG back in March.  The last trio of races have been vs. graded types, but there’s not much to show from those efforts.  He will have to turn it around in a big way to be a threat today. 

Another that is searching for his first win of the ’21 season and only has four starts this year.  Has a pair of thirds at the Alw level leading up to today, so he’s another that will need his very best to be part of the goings on here.  Can he regain some of his ’20 form today?

Got back on the right side of things over this surface last out, taking the Cougar (GIII) at the extended marathon distance.  He was game in that one, getting up to win by a nose.  He certainly has some back class as well, so you may want to give him a look here as he may come with some odds and could be a hand-full if he’s right. 

Solid handicap type that has two wins from his four seasonal starts and has been on the board in all races and certainly looked good in his last pair, winning the PIM Special (GIII) then closing to just miss when third a length back in the Suburban (GII) at BEL last out.  You have to give him a big shot to get the job done here, as well. 

Sophomore filly jumps in with the boys here, and you know I’m not a big fan.  She won the LA Derby (GIII) and was fourth in her most recent start, the Dandy (GII) where she showed good speed only to get a bit weary in the late stages of that one.  She obviously has a ton of talent, but I’m not sure this is a spot that she can show-case it. 

Another solid handicap horse that goes out, runs hard and brings home a check just about every time he is asked to.  He won the Ali (GIII) at KEE and just missed in both races since, a runner-up effort in the PIM Special (GIII) and a third in the Foster (GII) at CD.  You have to give him a serious look in this one. 

He just never seems to run a bad race… on the board in all nine starts last year, same story this year showing two wins and two thirds from four starts, and he’s won his last two coming into today.  Nice closing run to take the MTH Cup (GIII) at MTH last out… he’s a runner, no doubt about it. 

Gives a tough Mb one-two-three, as this is another that just never runs a bad race.  Won the SA Hcp (GI) back in Mar, then was third in the Gold Cup (GI) out in SoCal, then just missed last out in the Suburban (GII) where he was only a half length back.  You always have to watch this stable, but he’s loaded here today. 

His lone ’21 win came at the Alw level at PRX but he was third in the IND Derby (GIII) in his most recent.  He’s a solid race horse, but this is a tough bunch, so he will need his very best to get a check here today. 

The BEL (GI) winner sold after upsetting the TC aspirations and his first start for the new connections was not what they were hoping for… he tired to be seventh in the Haskel (GI) but obviously could rebound and be a factor here, if he brings his best effort to the party. 

Comes into this one off of a trio of marathon distance races, and he has been tough in those long races.  Won the Marathon at CD, and the Brooklyn (GII) then just missed a nose in the Cougar (GIII) over this track, carrying 128 pounds.  The weight drop and shorter distance could spell victory for this one today.     

COZMAN      8 / 6 / 11                        Willie’s Green Card         8 / 7 / 3-5           

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES