The $1 million FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes is the signature race of the Del Mar summer meet as well as one of the more important races in the chase for Eclipse Awards across multiple divisions such as champion older dirt male and Horse of the Year as well as champion 3-year-old male, on occasion.

The 1 ¼-mile, Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes has been a highlight of the summer season since its inaugural running won by Best Pal in 1991. Other notable winners include Free House (1998), Candy Ride (2003), Pleasantly Perfect (2004), Lava Man (2006), Game On Dude (2013), Shared Belief (2014), Beholder (2015), California Chrome (2016), Accelerate (2018), and Flightline (2022).

This year’s renewal of the Pacific Classic, set for Saturday Sept. 2, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series. The winner of the Pacific Classic will earn an expenses-paid spot in the starting gate for the $6 million Longines’ Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 4.

Last year, Flightline became the second horse (following Accelerate in 2018) to pull off the Pacific Classic-Breeders’ Cup Classic double. He did it in thoroughly dominating fashion, romping by a stakes-record 19 ¼ lengths in the Pacific Classic and then doing much the same in the Longines Classic at Keeneland, finishing 8 ¼ lengths clear while being geared down. That wrapped up an unbeaten 6-for-6 career for Southern California-based Flightline, who was overwhelmingly voted Horse of the Year and is now a stallion at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky.

Flightline was a 3-10 favorite in last year’s Pacific Classic, but this year’s race set for Saturday, Sept. 2 is wide open and drew a mix of 3-year-olds and older horses vying for an automatic berth in the Classic 10 weeks down the road. The race will be televised live on FanDuel TV. 

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Let’s take a look at this year’s Pacific Classic field.

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1. Geaux Rocket Ride (5-2 morning-line odds)

Jockey: Mike Smith

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Owner: Pin Oak Stud

Career record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $780,200

Earnings per start: $195,050

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 104

Pedigree: Candy Ride – Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo

Age: 3

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: After a breakthrough performance in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes, Geaux Rocket Ride will attempt to become the sixth 3-year-old to win the Pacific Classic Saturday along with fellow sophomores Arabian Knight and Skinner. Unlike that pair, this colt could arguably have a chance at securing the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male with a Pacific Classic win despite missing the Triple Crown races, although he’d need to back that up with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic given Arcangelo’s emergence as the current East Coast-based standout. Geaux Rocket Ride won the 1 1/8-mile Haskell impressively in only his fourth career start, ranging up to challenge and then surpass leader Arabian Knight on the far turn and then outfinishing Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner Mage in the late stages to score by 1 ¾ lengths. There’s plenty to like about Geaux Rocket Ride as a win candidate in the Pacific Classic: he’s been patiently handled by Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella; he has a pedigree suitable for the race’s 1 ¼-mile distance as a son of 2003 Pacific Classic winner (and stakes-record setter) Candy Ride; and he’ll be ridden by Mike Smith, who is tied with the late Garrett Gomez as the all-time winningest jockey in the Pacific Classic with four victories. Saturday evening, this colt should be positioned within range of probable pacesetter Arabian Knight through the backstretch – ideally no more than four lengths behind – before getting his cue from Smith in the far turn for another impressive rally. He won the Haskell from the inside post position so drawing it again in the Pacific Classic should not prove much of an obstacle. “Big Money Mike” Smith’s Pacific Classic wins came with Came Home (2002), Richard’s Kid (2009, 2010), and Shared Belief (2014). Mandella also has four wins in this race: Dare And Go (memorably winning in a big upset over Cigar in 1996); Gentlemen (1997); Pleasantly Perfect (2004); and the Hall of Fame racemare Beholder (2015). The five 3-year-olds that have won the Pacific Classic are Best Pal (1991), General Challenge (1999), Came Home, Game On Dude (2013), and Shared Belief. Geaux Rocket Ride, Arabian Knight, and Skinner will each receive a six-pound weight allowance against their older foes in the Pacific Classic, which will be beneficial in this mile-and-a-quarter race.

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2. Katonah (SCRATCHED)

Jockey: Antonio Fresu

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Owner: R3 Racing

Career record: 11 starts – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $210,180

Earnings per start: $19,107

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 112

Pedigree: Klimt – Ctimene, by Consolidator

Age: 4

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Katonah is an interesting longshot contender in the Pacific classic coming in off of two consecutive wins for Doug O’Neill, including a last-out victory in his stakes debut that netted a 112 Equibase Speed Figure. That came on July 9 in the one-mile and 70-yard Pleasanton Mile Stakes, where he stalked the pace early and easily took over in the stretch to win by 3 ¼ lengths. Pleasanton is a track at the Alameda County Fair outside of San Francisco that holds a brief meet every summer, and needless to say the level of competition is considerably lower than the best California racing has to offer at Del Mar. His win prior to the Pleasanton Mile came in a one-mile allowance-optional claiming race at Santa Anita Park on May 27, where he rallied to prevail by a neck. Katonah has hit the board in six of seven starts in 2023, and he’s been a notable horse to follow in O’Neill’s barn as he was claimed by the trainer way back in November 2021 and then did not race again until January. But the Klimt gelding is facing a gargantuan class jump in Saturday’s Pacific Classic and also could struggle attempting 1 ¼ miles as he has never raced farther than 1 1/16 miles. O’Neill won the 2006 Pacific Classic with fan favorite Lava Man, one of the most notable horses of this century to rise from the claiming ranks and become a Grade 1 winner. Katonah’s chances of accomplishing the same are remote, although he offers some appeal as a superfecta filler at high odds. UPDATE: Trainer Doug O’Neill told FanDuel TV on Sept. 1 that Katonah would be withdrawn from the Pacific Classic due to minor but lingering foot issues.

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3. Stilleto Boy (8-1)

Jockey: Kent Desormeaux

Trainer: Ed Moger Jr.

Owner: Steve Moger

Career record: 23 starts – 4 wins – 4 seconds – 9 thirds

Career earnings: $1,816,175

Earnings per start: $78,964

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 113

Pedigree: Shackleford – Rosie’s Ransom, by Marquetry

Age: 5

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Press the pace/stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This 5-year-old gelding has been competing in marquee graded stakes all around the U.S. for the past two years and he’s usually answered the call, as his hefty career bankroll indicates. He broke through with a Grade 2 stakes win last summer, but 2023 has easily been his best year, starting with a third-place finish in the lucrative Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Baccarat. Stilleto Boy next shipped back to his Southern California base for the Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino on March 4, and at long last secured a Grade 1 win by outfinishing Proxy and third-place Defunded in a 13.90-1 upset. Since then, he traveled to the Midwest and ran an outstanding third behind Proxy and Last Samurai in the Oaklawn Handicap in April, losing by a head, and then shipped to Ellis Park in Kentucky and finished sixth in the Stephen Foster Stakes, fading from third in the stretch. His Foster effort wasn’t as bad as it appears on paper, as Stilleto Boy earned a 110 Equibase Speed Figure which is tied for third-best in his career. He rarely wins, but this hard-trying type can easily fill out the exacta and/or trifecta if he’s on his game, and he won’t be facing Flightline – who defeated Stilleto Boy by 36 ½ lengths a year ago – in Saturday’s Pacific Classic either. Kent Desormeaux has paired well with Stilleto Boy earlier in his career and through his last three starts; the Hall of Fame jockey won the second-ever Pacific Classic back in 1992 aboard Missionary Ridge.

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4. Tripoli (20-1)

Jockey: Tiago Pereira

Trainer: John Sadler

Owner: Hronis Racing

Career record: 26 starts – 5 wins – 4 seconds – 4 thirds

Career earnings: $968,260

Earnings per start: $37,241

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 111

Pedigree: Kitten’s Joy – Love Train, by Tapit

Age: 6

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Tripoli posted a mild upset in the 2021 Pacific Classic, winning by 1 ¼ lengths at odds of 6.50-1, but hasn’t come close to replicating that effort in 12 starts since. He’s only visited the winner’s circle once during that span, after winning a one-mile allowance race on Golden Gate Fields’ synthetic Tapeta Footings surface back in March of this year, and he has been no threat whatsoever in six subsequent Grade 1 or Grade 2 starts, his best effort at those levels coming last out when he finished fifth by 3 ½ lengths in the July 29, 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. The son of Kitten’s Joy did earn a 110 Equibase Speed Figure in the San Diego, one below his career top earned in the 2021 Pacific Classic and another start that year, and a repeat of that figure at the longer distance of the Pacific Classic could help him fill out the superfecta. Based on his form over the past year-plus, that should be considered a success for owner Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler, who have dominated the Pacific Classic in recent years. In addition to owning Tripoli, Hronis Racing also were sole owners of 2018 winner Accelerate and 2019 winner Higher Power, and were partners with Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing in owning 2022 winner and Horse of the Year Flightline. Sadler trained all four of those horses, and jockey Tiago Pereira rode Tripoli to victory in 2021.

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5. Defunded (4-1)

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Owners: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman

Career record: 18 starts – 7 wins – 4 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $1,606,100

Earnings per start: $89,228

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 110

Pedigree: Dialed In – Wind Caper, by Touch Gold

Age: 5

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Press the pace/stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Defunded will attempt to rebound in Saturday’s Pacific Classic from a rare subpar effort, coming into the race off of a fourth-place finish in the San Diego Handicap July 29 at Del Mar where he was the 4-5 post-time favorite. The Dialed In gelding has established himself as one of the top older dirt horses in training over the past two years, winning two Grade 1 stakes (the 2022 Awesome Again Stakes and the 2023 Hollywood Gold Cup back on May 29), taking two other graded races, and also finishing second in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Baccarat and third in the Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino earlier this year. He has a pace-pressing running style that should benefit him in the Pacific Classic, and he’s made three starts in his career at the 1 ¼-mile distance of the Pacific Classic with a record of 1-1-1, all in Grade 1 stakes. If he can get back to top form in the Pacific Classic, Defunded should be prominent early, perhaps racing just off the early pace set by stablemate Arabian Knight, and be in good position to take over in early stretch under current Del Mar leading rider Juan Hernandez. Bob Baffert has two horses that can move him ahead of Bobby Frankel as the winningest trainer in the Pacific Classic. His previous six tallies came with General Challenge (1999), Richard’s Kid (2009, 2010), Game On Dude (2013), Collected (2017), and Maximum Security (2020).  

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6. Order and Law (30-1)

Jockey: Edwin Maldonado

Trainer: Robert Hess Jr.

Owners: Larry Buckendorf, Jeffrey Lambert, Lawrence Rodriguez, Paul Schneider, Peter Stotland, and Matthew White

Career record: 42 starts – 8 wins – 6 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $456,804

Earnings per start: $10,876

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 108

Pedigree: Violence – Poetic Kid, by Shakespeare

Age: 7

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Order and Law is the grizzled veteran in this year’s Pacific Classic field, having made 42 starts since debuting back in August 2018 and spanning the U.S. several times while racing on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces. Most of his success has come since 2020 and after he began primarily competing in distances one mile or longer. He’s had two prior trainers to Robert Hess Jr., who assumed supervision of Order and Law after his current owners claimed him in May 2022. For Hess, Order and Law has competed at several levels, making three starts in claiming races and also some stakes appearances. Last summer, he finished fourth in the Cougar II Stakes at Del Mar going 1 ½ miles, and then on July 23 he won the 2023 Cougar II by 2 ¼ lengths in a 14.80-1 upset. That was easily Order and Law’s best race coming in career start number 42, and even with a repeat of that effort it’s difficult to see him winning the Pacific Classic. On the other hand, if the pace is fast enough Saturday evening this ridgling has shown the requisite stamina needed to handle 1 ¼ miles, and he could pick off some tired runners late to juice up superfecta or (less likely) trifecta payouts. 

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7. Slow Down Andy (8-1)

Jockey: Mario Gutierrez

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Owner: Reddam Racing

Career record: 12 starts – 4 wins – 4 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $976,600

Earnings per start: $81,383

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 113

Pedigree: Nyquist – Edwina E, by Square Eddie

Age: 4

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This Reddam Racing homebred son of Nyquist, who won the 2016 Kentucky Derby for these connections, has acquitted himself well in top-flight competition over the past couple of years without securing an elusive Grade 1 victory. He first emerged in late 2021 as a promising 2-year-old with a win in the Los Alamitos Futurity and tallied a Grade 2 turf win in summer 2022. Slow Down Andy then closed out that year with two solid third-place finishes in Grade 1 races, the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita Park and then the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland. The latter effort was especially noteworthy, as Slow Down Andy continued well through the stretch to finish less than two lengths behind dueling Cody’s Wish and Cyberknife. He did not make his first start as a 4-year-old until June and did not fire when sixth behind Cody’s Wish in the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, but improved significantly in the San Diego Handicap July 29 to check in second by 1 ¼ lengths to longshot Senor Buscador. Slow Down Andy has posted three solid workouts at Del Mar since the San Diego and could be sitting on a career-best race Saturday. If that’s the case, he can post the mild upset over more heralded runners Defunded, Arabian Knight, and Geaux Rocket Ride and give trainer Doug O’Neill his second Pacific Classic win following Lava Man’s memorable score in 2006.

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8. Senor Buscador (10-1)

Jockey: Geovanni Franco

Trainer: Todd Fincher

Owner: Peacock Family Holdings

Career record: 12 starts – 6 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $667,427

Earnings per start: $55,619

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 115

Pedigree: Mineshaft – Rose’s Desert, by Desert God

Age: 5

Color: Bay

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This son of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft comes into the Pacific Classic off of a career-best effort in Del Mar’s local prep, the July 29 San Diego Handicap, which he won going away by 1 ¼ lengths. In that 1 1/16-mile race, Senor Buscador settled last of nine early on, gradually made up ground while traveling wide on the far turn, and then unleashed a strong closing charge in the homestretch under first-time rider Geovanni Franco. He earned a career-best 115 Equibase Speed Figure in the San Diego, but this horse has been quite consistent as he’s garnered triple-digit Equibase figures in eight out of his last nine starts. This horse has been somewhat underrated when starting in big races since returning from a long layoff in July 2022, and won the San Diego as a 13.50-1 outsider. Expect his odds to be somewhat lower in the Pacific Classic, but Senor Buscador could still go off in the range of 8-1 to 10-1 against this field, which makes him an intriguing longshot contender and a must-use horse in exactas and trifectas. He finished a well-beaten fifth of six two starts back in his only start at a mile and a quarter, but was bumped and crowded early in the Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita Park and bounced back impressively in the San Diego. He should be closing fast in the stretch and his upset chances will improve considerably if he gets a fast pace to run into.

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9. Arabian Knight (3-1)

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Career record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $644,275

Earnings per start: $214,798

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 106

Pedigree: Uncle Mo – Borealis Night, by Astrology

Age: 3

Color: Bay

Running style: Pacesetter

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Lightly raced Arabian Knight figures to vie for post-time favoritism in the Pacific Classic with his older and more experienced stablemate Defunded and with fellow 3-year-old Geaux Rocket Ride, who defeated him in the July 22 TVG.com Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park last out. That 1 1/8-mile race was only Arabian Knight’s third career start, and came after a nearly six-month break. In the Haskell, he contested the pace through the first half-mile with a 61.70-1 longshot and took command entering the far turn, only to tire at the top of the stretch when challenged by Geaux Rocket Ride and runner-up Mage. Arabian Knight won his two starts prior to the layoff by a combined 12 ¾ lengths, including the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park back in January, and has been training steadily for Bob Baffert at Del Mar in recent weeks. He should improve in his second start off the layoff and will be one of the main speed threats in the Pacific Classic. If Defunded and possibly Stilleto Boy don’t challenge Arabian Knight for the early lead, he’s a threat to take this field gate to wire. John Velazquez rode this colt for his first three starts but will not make the trip from New York for the Pacific Classic mount; instead, Flavien Prat, who moved his tack from California to New York in 2022, returns gunning for his second win in a row in this race following Flightline’s demolition last summer, and third win overall. Bob Baffert is tied with Bobby Frankel as the all-time winningest trainer in the Pacific Classic. His six wins are with General Challenge (1999), Richard’s Kid (2009, 2010), Game On Dude (2013), Collected (2017), and Maximum Security (2020). Prat also won the 2019 Pacific Classic aboard Higher Power.

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10. Piroli (20-1)

Jockey: Antonio Fresu

Trainer: Mike McCarthy

Owner: Don Alberto Stable

Career record: 14 starts – 3 wins – 4 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $237,300

Earnings per start: $16,950

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 107

Pedigree: Battle of Midway – Phonybooksnrecords, by Tapit

Age: 4

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Piroli is a good horse to consider using for exacta and trifecta tickets in the Pacific Classic and is a second-tier win contender behind the probable favorites Arabian Knight, Defunded, and Geaux Rocket Ride. After racing with little distinction during 2021 and 2022, he’s reached peak form this year at age 4, winning three of six starts with one second and one third. His runner-up effort came two starts back, when he finished a length behind Defunded in the Hollywood Gold Cup May 29 at Santa Anita Park. Piroli earned a career-best 107 Equibase Speed Figure in the Hollywood Gold Cup, and followed that with a 101 figure when finishing fourth in a one-mile Del Mar allowance-optional claiming race July 30. He stumbled at the break in that race and had a wide trip thereafter, so if things go more smoothly Saturday evening this gelding could be in contention when the field hits the homestretch under first-time rider Antonio Fresu. Fresu replaces Umberto Rispoli, who was initially tabbed to ride Piroli, as Rispoli continues to recuperate following a spill on Aug. 31. Fresu has been on a torrid pace winning races at Del Mar in recent weeks; this is his first appearance in the Pacific Classic.

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11. Skinner (10-1)

Jockey: Hector Berrios

Trainer: John Shirreffs

Owner: C R K Stable

Career record: 7 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 3 thirds

Career earnings: $241,300

Earnings per start: $34,471

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 104

Pedigree: Curlin – Winding Way, by Malibu Moon

Age: 3

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker/closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Earlier this year, Skinner was one of the West Coast “buzz” horses on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve based on a three-race stretch where he broke his maiden by 3 ¼ lengths, finished a solid third in the San Felipe Stakes, and then finished an even-better third in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, all three races coming at Santa Anita Park. The Curlin colt was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby one day before the race due to an elevated temperature and did not start again until July 8. In the 1 1/8-mile Los Alamitos Derby, where he raced wide in a small field and drifted in the stretch to finish 2 ½ lengths behind Reincarnate. He’ll be a middle-tier win candidate in the Pacific Classic behind fellow 3-year-olds Geaux Rocket Ride and Arabian Knight plus two or three older horses, and will need to summon a career-best effort to pull off the upset. On the positive side, he has been training well enough in recent weeks for John Shirreffs to enter him in this race, and the veteran conditioner has a reputation of being patient with his horses and not bringing them back until they’re ready to race. Skinner still has untapped potential and should not be overlooked as a win contender at what could be odds in the 8-1 to 10-1 range.