Handicapper's Corner: 2024 Pacific Classic (G1)

 Seeking a miracle in the Pacific Classic

By: Stuart Marc deVoe, ThoroFan Handicapper

Del Mar’s premier race, The Pacific Classic, is on Saturday and all eyes would have been on Adare Manor.  Unfortunately, she tied up after a gallop on Friday morning and Bob Baffert, her trainer, decided it best to keep her in the barn and scratch.   

Let’s face it, without her, the race lacks some star power.  However, it is long on competitiveness.  There isn’t really a major player in the handicap division in California.  All the entrants are looking to take that spot, and it is an interesting handicapping puzzle to figure out who that might be.   

 

Here's the field: Horse(Trainer/Jockey/M-L)

1.  Il Miracolo (A. Sano/M. Smith5-1)  An East Coast shipper comes in on short rest with a decent score card.  A G3 winner who is seemingly always trying.  It could be argued that the racing back east is a bit tougher so there may be a sneaky class drop here. 

2.  There Goes Harvard (M. McCarthy/H. Berrios/15-1)  His last 2 starts were in graded events on the turf but he does own a G1 win at the distance in 2022.  Now 6, can he replicate that form?  If so, that might put him in the mix.  He would be a bit of a shock but connections who recently purchased him thinks he has some upside.

3.  Dr. Venkman (M. Glatt/A. Fresu/5-2)  A horse with some upside.  His last was his 1^st race around 2 turns and in a G2 beating Katona who is also racing here.  It’s possible for him to stretch out to today’s distance going up in class.  His 5/2ML seems short to see if he can do some new things.  But again, why not give it a shot in this field for this purse.

4.  Reincarnate (B. Baffert/K. Kimura/8-1)  Always seems to be in the hunt but never seems to seal the deal.  His last win was in the listed Los Al Derby just over a year ago.  If things went his way, he could certainly grab a slice

5.  Katonah (D. O’Neil/T. Pereira/8-1)  He is 2^nd off a year layoff today.  His 1^st start back was a good 2^nd to Dr. Venkman.  This is a tall ask for this 5yo gelding but good connections must think a lot of him. 

6.  Full Serrano (Arg) (J. Sadler/R. Gutierrez/12-1)  Another entry who is 2^nd off a layoff.  He will be taking them as far as he can on the lead.  He did win at the distance in his homeland of Argentina on the grass.  Sadler, his conditioner, has won this race 4 of the last 6 years and says that he has “trained his way into this race”.  

7.  Adare Manor (B. Baffert/JJ Hernandez/9-5)  SCRATCHED

8.  None Above the Law (J. Periban/J. Laprida/20-1)  A Cal bred who looks up against it. 

9.  Mixto (D. O’Neil/K. Frey/20-1) A winner of 1 race in 13 tries.  I wish them luck.

 

SUMMARY:  Can Full Serrano (Arg) wire the field?  Will Dr. Venkman continue his ascent to G1 glory?  Can Katonah move forward 2^nd off a layoff of one year?  Perhaps Reincarnate finds the “eye of the tiger” and runs a big one.  Quite frankly, take your pick! 

For me, I will side with Il Miracolo.  I feel he has been keeping some sneaky better company on the East Coast.  He has a tracking style from the rail and should sit a good trip.  Big $$$ Mike Smith is in the boot.  His speed figures size up will against these.  Why not…as this is where my dart landed.  I am also interested in Full Serrano (Arg) as the speed of the speed and Dr. Venkman as I think he can keep moving forward.

 

THE BET: 

Based on $100 wagered:

$60 win Il Miracolo

$20 exacta Il Miracolo with Dr. Venkman and Full Serrano (Arg)

Good Luck!