Pacific Classic: Lots of questions less than 2 weeks out

Usually by this time every year we have a pretty good idea of who plans to run in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar. But this year, for one reason or another, trainers and owners are holding back and waiting. 

One theory has everyone waiting for the connections of Journalism to make their decision of what they’re going to do with their Preakness and Haskell (G1) winner. If he goes in the Aug. 30 Pacific Classic, some may choose to dodge him and go somewhere else. If he doesn’t go, speculation has many connections jumping in to try to get a piece of the $1 million pie. 

“Still a lot to be determined,” racing secretary David Jerkens said. “Nominations close (this) Thursday in addition to a bunch of other stakes. We received the news about White Abarrio and we’re planning on Nysos.”

Nysos is a 4-year-old colt out of the Bob Baffert barn. The son of Nyquist has been pointed to the Pacific Classic ever since his win in the San Diego (G2) last month. He worked Saturday at Del Mar and drilled seven furlongs in 1:24.60.

Reports had White Abarrio making the trip out West to run in the Pacific Classic then staying in California and prepping for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. But now it’s not such a sure thing. This week came word from the Saffie Joseph camp that they may stay in New York and run in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 31. 

The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner fired a bullet work, going four furlongs in :47.40 at Saratoga on Thursday.

So for now, four horses are considered probables. Nysos and his stablemate Mirahmadi, Craig Dollase’s Midnight Mammoth and Indispensable from the John Sadler barn, which raced last year’s Pacific Classic runner-up Full Serrano.

Possibles for the Pacific Classic are Malarchuk, a new stablemate of Journalism’s in the Michael McCarthy barn; Ultimate Gamble from the Mark Glatt stable; White Abarrio, Journalism and trainer Peter Eurton’s Tarantino, though Eurton said Saturday he’s still considering an invitation he received for the Korea Cup next month. 

“We’ll see where the 3-year-olds land,” Jerkens said. “There are a lot of options around the country for all categories this time of year. We’ve reached out to anybody that has a decent older handicap-type horse. The picture will start to get clearer in the next couple of days.”

McCarthy and primary owner Aron Wellman look like they’ll remain on the fence with Journalism at least through next weekend. The Pacific Classic would be the colt’s first venture against older horses, but six 3-year-olds have won the Pacific Classic in the past. The race is a win-and-you’re-in for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but Journalism already punched his ticket to the big race when he won the Haskell at Monmouth Park last month. 

The other option for the Derby and Belmont Stakes runner up would be waiting for the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita on Sept. 27. Next week’s scheduled breeze for Journalism is expected to give McCarthy and Wellman a better idea of whether they want to run him once or twice before the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar in November.

All of the probables for the Pacific Classic worked this week, all but one at Del Mar. Mirahmadi galloped on Sunday and was expected to work Monday. Indispensable drilled six furlongs on Saturday, stopping the clock at 1:13.60. Midnight Mammoth put in a one-mile work in 1:40.20 on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

From the group of possibles to work this week, Journalism went four furlongs in 48.0 seconds Saturday at Del Mar. Ultimate Gamble also breezed Saturday at the seaside oval, going five furlongs in 59.6. Tarantino fired a bullet four furlongs in 47.0 at Del Mar on Friday.