Head to Head: Opinions differ on Pacific Classic exotics

Laurie

Ashley

1. Il Miracolo (3-1)

Il Miracolo was under a stranglehold early while contesting the Philip H. Iselin (G3) pace. While Il Miracolo was busy putting away the pacesetter, Subsanador zipped by, and Il Miracolo gave chase, closing with each stride, but had to settle for second place. In his second-to-last breeze, the Antonio Sano trainee had a five-furlong work in 1:00 at Saratoga with stakes-placed Dancing Groom. Il Miracolo was out for a stroll and much the best over his mate, who was aggressively pushed to keep up.

Il Miracolo is bred on the potent Gun Runner/Tapit cross, which has produced eight stakes winners, including Cotillion (G1) heroine Society, multiple graded winners Red Route One and Wicked Halo, plus Red Run, who was second in the 1 1/2-mile Isaac Murphy Marathon by a neck. That being said, Il Miracolo hasn't won beyond 1 1/16 miles, although he's finished second a few times. He's very consistent, though, and should improve in his second start off the layoff. Exotics.

Trained by Antonio Sano, Il Miracolo has matured into a better runner than I thought he would be after watching him struggle on last year’s Triple Crown trail. This year he’s 5: 1-1-2 with his lone win coming in the Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream Park. He has raced exclusively in graded stakes races this year, but his off-the-board finish did come in a Grade 1 event. He is Grade 1-placed via a 3rd in last year’s Pennsylvania Derby (G1) but was out of the money in all other attempts at the highest level. Big-money Mike Smith picks up the mount for Sano. Use underneath.

2. There Goes Harvard (10-1)

There Goes Harvard has been off form since his Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) victory in 2022. Although he closed four fourth place in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) in May, this 6-year-old's best days are in the rear view mirror. Pass.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, There Goes Harvard has bounced back and forth from dirt to turf and back again. He enters off a ninth place finish, beaten by just 5 3/4 lengths, in the Eddie Read (G2). There Goes Harvard has had a couple interruptions to his career, most recently coming off a nearly 11-month layoff to run fourth in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) to begin his 2024 campaign. It’s easy to see why he bounces between surfaces as he’s not very adept over either, though his 11: 2-4-2 dirt record is certainly better than his 6: 2-1-0 turf record. Hector Isaac Berrios picks up the mount. Pass.

3. Dr. Venkman (8-5)

Dr. Venkman slimed the field by a length in the San Diego Handicap (G2). He looked last year's Pacific Classic (G1) hero Arabian Lion in the eye, told him to back off, and turned back a challenge from Katonah. Now that he's past his Grade 2 test with a career-best 103 Brisnet rating, the Mark Glatt trainee takes on bigger and better

This son of Ghostzapper is out of a daughter of Arkansas Derby (G1) hero Archarcharch. Race Lens, shows that over the last 5 years, that from 22 dirt starts at 1 1/4 miles or farther, Ghostzapper offspring have won twice and six have placed including 2022 Brooklyn Stakes (G2) hero Fearless. Dr. Venkman has pacesetting/pressing style, loves Del Mar, and he may get the chance to tell the field, "Back off, man, I'm a racehorse!" Contender.

Trained by Mark Glatt, Dr. Venkman has never been out of the exacta in his short, five race career. He successfully stretched out around two turns last out when winning the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap (G2) and will obviously be asked to race even further here. The 4-year-old gelding is undefeated in three starts at Del Mar, making him an excellent horse-for-course angle play. Antonio Fresu has the return call. Contender.

4. Reincarnate (5-1)

Reincarnate has to have it his way on the lead, or he will back down. With Brisnet ratings in the mid to high 90's range, the Bob Baffert trainee doesn't have brilliant speed, but he'll keep things interesting on the front end. Count him most likely to pick up the pieces if somebody can't keep up. Exotics.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Reincarnate has run well this year but has yet to find the winner’s circle. He was most recently a distant 2nd in the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II (G3), so he’ll be cutting back in distance for this spot. Reincarnate is 2: 1-1-0 at Del Mar and 3: 0-1-1 at the 1 1/4-mile distance. I expect him to run his race but doubt it will get his picture taken. Kazushi Kimura replaces Juan Hernandez, who had been named on stablemate Adare Manor. Use underneath.

5. Katonah (6-1)

Katonah stretches out after a steady diet of hit-or-miss against optional claimers as a miler. He gained ground in the 1 1 1/6 mile San Diego Handicap (G2) but wasn't going to pass Dr. Venkman. Katonah has a miler's pedigree. Race Lens shows that his sire Klimt has one winner at 1 1/8 miles, and none have hit the board beyond that. Katonah's female family is sprinter/miler-oriented, although a few turf routers are sprinkled throughout. Pass.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, Katonah ran a strong 2nd to Dr. Venkman in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap (G2) off a nearly year-long layoff. Since being gelded in 2022, Katonah has only finished off the board once and that was in a turf sprint. He has never attempted 1 1/4 miles but is 3: 0-2-0 at Del Mar. Tiago Josue Pereira has the return call, but it should be noted that he’s been on a cold streak. He is winless with a 30 percent in-the-money clip over the last ten days and is just seven percent with a 28 percent in-the-money rate over the last 30 days, per Race Lens. Use underneath.

6.  Full Serrano (8-1)

In his first start in the United States, Full Serrano kept a field of $40,000 allowance-optional claiming class rivals at bay by 2 1/4 lengths while racing on his left lead. He completed the mile in a slow 1:37.78 with a dawdling 14:04 final furlong, earning a 90 Brisnet rating. He has a decent record in Argentina, hitting the board in half his starts, and was a nose shy of a Group 3 victory at 1 1/4 miles over the lawn, but he was no match for the Group 1 types. John Sadler gave Full Serrano a pre-race 6-furlong bullet work in 1:11.4. Full Serrano switched leads and was in full flight, the rider sitting chilly. He's a smooth mover. This mystery horse could be any type. Long shot for exotics.

Trained by John Sadler, Full Serrano won his U.S. debut, a mile optional claimer, by a strong 2 1/4 lengths. The 5-year-old dueled with a rival through hot early fractions of 21.58 and 44.94 seconds but still had enough to kick away in the stretch, probably due in large part to the pace slowing way down to 25.37 seconds for the third quarter and 27.47 seconds for the final quarter. Full Serrano is capable of getting the 1 1/4-mile distance as he’s done so previously on the turf, but he’s facing much stiffer competition here. Reylu Gutierrez takes over from Hector Berrios. Pass.

7.  Adare Manor

Adare Manor has been scratched.

Adare Manor has been scratched.

8. None Above the Law (20-1)

None Above the Law captured the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Derby (G2) on the lawn way back in 2021. Since then, he's struggled against state-breds. He entered the winner's circle again this summer, closing to capture the 1 mile Bertrando Stakes by 3/4 length. None Above the Law is the field's "Why?" horse. Pass.

Trained by Jorge Periban, None Above the Law is another that has bounced back and forth from dirt to turf. The 6-year-old gelding was most recently 3rd in the state-bred, $150,000 California Dreamin’ on turf. Two starts back he won the state-bred, $100,000 Bertrando on dirt. None Above the Law has run almost exclusively in state-bred company and does not appear to be capable of handling this field. Periban has just one graded win to his name and has not been on the board in graded stakes races over the last five years, according to Race Lens. Jeremy Laprida takes over from Antonio Fresu. Pass.

9. Mixto (15-1)

The later-maturing Mixto has been knocking on the door seeking his first graded victory. He does his best work on the lead but couldn't hold off the winner of the Pleasanton Mile, yielding by two lengths. Pass.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, Mixto most recently failed as the favorite in the $150,000 Pleasanton Mile, finishing second beaten by two lengths. He has raced in most of the major California races this year but hasn’t found the winner’s circle since breaking his maiden in November 2023. He’s 2024 record is 5: 0-1-2 with on-the-board finishes in the San Pasqual (G2) and Californian (G3). Mixto is not a win threat but it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that he could snag a minor award. Kyle Frey takes over from Antonio Fresu, who will ride Dr. Venkman instead. Use underneath.