O'Neill saddles Donworth and Curlin Road in Pacific Classic
Trainer Doug O’Neill made his way to the winner’s circle following Lava Man’s 2 ½ length victory as the even money favorite in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic in 2006, but hasn’t made it back there with four starters since in Del Mar’s signature event.
While fully aware that it’s a longshot chance at best, O’Neill is hoping to get back to the presentation area after Saturday’s 27th running when he’ll saddle Donworth and Curlin Road.
“Obviously, Bob Baffert is holding two aces (Arrogate and Collected), but I still feel we’ve got two good chances,” O’Neill said Thursday by phone. The father of two has spent the early part of the week seeing his children off on the start of a new school year and supervising strings of horses in the L.A. area while leaving the Del Mar training to right-hand man Leandro Mora and other Team O’Neill assistants.
Donworth drew the No. 6 post position and Curlin Road No. 7 in a field of eight, with Arrogate to their outside.
“I’m very happy with the draws for both of them,” O’Neill said. “I like the fact that they’re a little more to the outside.”
Lava Man, a California-bred gelding claimed for $50,000 at Del Mar in 2004, went on to earn $5,170,103, the most ever by a horse following a claim. In 2006, he became the first horse to sweep the Southern California circuit’s trio of biggest races – the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic.
There’ll never be another Lava Man, but O’Neill does see some traits in common with his two for Saturday’s race.
“Donworth is a big, strong, athletic horse like Lava Man and he has speed like Lava Man did,” O’Neill said. “He has been plagued with injuries, but right now he’s really in top shape.
Donworth punched his Pacific Classic ticket with a runner-up effort to Accelerate, 6 ¾ lengths in front of fourth-place Arrogate, in the San Diego Handicap.
“And Curlin Road is a claimed horse, like Lava Man was,” O’Neill said.
Claimed for $40,000 in April at Santa Anita, Curlin Road won the Cougar II Handicap here on July 26.
“They’re both doing really well, and at the right time,” O’Neill said.
The field from the rail: Royal Albert Hall (Corey Nakatani, 30-1), Collected (Martin Garcia, 5-2), Accelerate (Victor Espinoza, 3-1), Sorry Erik (Kent Desormeaux, 30-1), Hard Aces (Santiago Gonzalez, 20-1), Donworth (Mario Gutierrez, 15-1), Curlin Road (Flavien Prat, 20-1) and Arrogate (Mike Smith, 1-1).
The TVG Pacific Classic is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic here on Saturday, November 4.
Source: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club