Handicapper's Corner: 2019 Pacific Classic (G1)

A Logical Long Shot in the Pacific Classic

By: Robert Marks (@theyreinthegate)

Saturday at 6:35 pm Pacific time (9:35 Eastern) is the Grade 1 2019 TVG Pacific Classic for 3-year old’s and Up. The purse is $1,000,000. The distance is 1 1/4 miles on the Dirt Track.

This is the premier race for the summer meet at Del Mar Racetrack. You will see some of these horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic later this fall so this is a key race on the way to the BC Classic.  This is also a “win and you’re in” qualifier for the BC Classic.

This year, the 29th edition of the race has a full field of 10 entries.

#6 Tenfold (8-1)  Mike Smith climbs aboard Tenfold for the first time. Mr. Smith has won this race 5 times (tied with Garret Gomez for most wins). How often do you get Mike Smith and 8-1 morning line odds?  This 4 year old was sired by Curlin (also trained by Asmussen). He comes off a lackluster 9th in the Stephen Clark at Churchill but won 2 back in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special.  Has a favorable post for his running style which is a stalking type. If he gets a nice pace to close into, I like Big Money Mike coming down the stretch for the upset win here.

#2 Quip (7-2)  Ran 2nd to Seeking the Soul in the Stephen Foster in June at Churchill. Before that he won the Oaklawn Handicap. He seems to be in perfect form and had a very high speed figure in the Stephen Foster. I look for this horse to be one of the early pack leaders, if not the leader, and holding out for the place position at the finish line. Jockey Florent Geroux won the 2017 BC Classic on this track aboard Gun Runner.

#7 Seeking the Soul (3-1) This 6 year old horse is your Morning Line Favorite. If this was Churchill Downs, where he has won 3 stakes races, we would jump on board with a big win bet, but as he ships west to Del Mar, our win money will go to better valve on Tenfold. Seeking the Soul is in top form, coming off a closing win in the Stephen Foster at Churchill. Look for him to be closing again, trying to pass the early leaders in the last ¼ mile. We look for a bit of a bounce and expect a 3rd or 4th place effort for this Dallas Stewart trained entry. 

Overall, we expect a fast pace with Quip, Pavel and Draft Pick going early setting up the race for closers Tenfold and Seeking the Soul.

Our strategy will be keying on Tenfold to win and putting him on top of our Exacta’s and Trifecta’s.

Wagering/Betting Handigambling Bankroll

Here is our $100 worth of betting for the race

Exacta Key Box $10:  6/2,7  = $40

Trifecta Box $5:  6/2,7/2,7 = $10

Win Bet $50: 6 = $50

As always, watch the Board and if at the track watch how the horses look in the Paddock and adjust your bets accordingly. Good Luck!