Pacific Classic 2022: See field, post positions, jockeys and odds

Grade 1 winner Flightline is undefeated and widely considered one of the most exciting racing prospects to emerge in recent years. On Saturday at Del Mar, he’ll be put to the test when he tries to navigate two turns for the first time in the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) going 1 1/4 miles.

Flightline was among three Grade 1 winners entered Tuesday for the Pacific Classic, one of the most highly-anticipated races of the summer. The others in the field of six are Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Country Grammer for trainer Bob Baffert and Express Train, winner of this year’s Santa Anita Handicap (G1) for trainer John Shirreffs.

Also in the field for Del Mar’s signature race is Royal Ship, winner of last month's San Diego (G2) at Del Mar. He will be joined in the starting gate by stablemate Extra Hope for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. Rounding out the field is Stilleto Boy, who won the Californian (G2) at Santa Anita earlier this year and was third in the San Diego.

Flightline, who in his only start this year won the one-mile Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park, was installed as the heavy 1-5 favorite by Del Mar morning-line maker Jon White. Jockey Flavien Prat, who has been aboard for all four of Flightline’s wins, is scheduled to make the cross-country trip from his base in New York to ride.

Trained by John Sadler, Flightline worked six times at Del Mar this summer in preparation for his two-turn debut. The drills include a six-furlong gate work in company on Aug. 13 followed by a stiff seven-furlong move in 1:24.0 seven days later.

On Tuesday at Del Mar, Flightline schooled in the paddock. Jeff Lifson of co-owner West Point Thoroughbreds posted a video on social media.

More than four months after winning the 1 1/4-mile Dubai World Cup in late March, Country Grammer returned in the July 30 San Diego going 1 1/16 miles and was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Royal Ship. Country Grammer and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez pressed the pace in the San Diego before being overhauled by the winner at the top of the stretch.

Express Train was the slight 2-1 favorite in last year’s Pacific Classic and finished a disappointing sixth. He had a strong winter at Santa Anita reeling off wins in the San Antonio (G2), San Pasqual (G2) and Santa Anita Handicap. Shirreffs was subsequently not happy with how the 5-year-old horse by Union Rags had been training and opted to skip races like the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and last month’s San Diego. He has been working steadily since mid-July and enters the Pacific Classic off back-to-back six furlong drills.

The Pacific Classic is among five stakes on Saturday’s card at Del Mar. The others are the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Derby (G2) on turf,  Del Mar Handicap (G2) going 1 3/8 miles on turf, Del Mar Mile (G2) on turf, and the Shared Belief for 3-year-olds going one mile on the main track. Those races along with the remainder of Saturday’s program will be drawn on Wednesday.