Pacific Classic notes: Decision pending for Rock Your World

Rock Your World went through a regularly scheduled workout – the fifth straight such Sunday exercise session since arriving at Del Mar – this morning. But whether it was a final one before running in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic or another step toward the $250,000 Del Mar Derby (G2) on Sept. 4 remains to be determined.

The 3-year-old son of Candy Ride went six furlongs out of the gate in 1:12.60 under jockey Umberto Rispoli. Clocker/handicapper Toby Turrell had interim splits of 36.40 and 1:00.60.

“It went very well, we were all happy with it,” said Juan Leyva, assistant to trainer John Sadler. “At this point it (next race) is still undecided. I’m sure John will come back tomorrow, make sure everything is all right with the horse and probably decide then.”

The deadline for nominations to the signature event of the Del Mar summer season was last Thursday at midnight and 15 names were filed. Supplemental entries can still be submitted, at a cost of $7,500, until 10 a.m. PDT Tuesday. With the field set then, post positions will be drawn at a gathering that afternoon at The Brigantine restaurant adjacent to the track.

Hronis Racing’s Rock Your World, who has earned $591,600 with three wins from five career starts, had put together the following string of Sunday workouts before this morning: four furlongs in 50.40 on turf, July 18; five furlongs in 1:01 on turf July 25; six furlongs in 1:13.20 on turf Aug. 1 and, five furlongs in 1:00.20 one week ago.

Prior to the July 16 start of the meeting, Sadler had said the Del Mar Derby was the major target for Rock Your World. He was a surprise nominee to the Pacific Classic.

Rock Your World sports a 5: 3-0-0 record with $591,600 earned. He won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in April, then was 17th in the Kentucky Derby and sixth in the Belmont Stakes.

Shirreffs works 2 for Classic, leans toward running 1

Pacific Classic nominees Express Train and Midcourt recorded six-furlongs workouts for trainer John Shirreffs this morning with Express Training being the fastest, by nearly two seconds, of the pair.

Express Train, under Juan Hernandez, was timed in 1:12.20, fastest of 12 workers at the distance. Toby Turrell caught the 4-year-old son of Union Rags, winner of the San Diego Handicap (G2) on July 17, with splits of 24.0, 36.20, 47.60 and 59.80 en route to the official clocking and had him galloping out to seven furlongs in 1:26.40.

Midcourt, a 6-year-old gelded son of Midnight Lute, was timed in 1:14.60 under Edwin Maldonado. Midcourt ended a six-month layoff with an allowance victory at Santa Anita in June.

Shirreffs said he was pleased with both works but was, “leaning” toward running only Express Train.

Throw out the San Diego, Sheriff Brown in for Classic

Trainer Todd Fincher said by phone from his Ruidoso, N.M., headquarters that Joe Peacock homebred Sheriff Brown should be counted "in" for the Pacific Classic.

“He came out of his work well and it looks like it’s a go,” Fincher said.

Sheriff Brown, a gelded 5-year-old son of Curlin, shipped in from Texas for the Pacific Classic prep San Diego Handicap on July 17 and finished seventh of eight, beaten 8¾ lengths by Express Train.

“That was pretty much a throw-out,” Fincher said of the San Diego. “He had just shipped in and wasn’t comfortable in his surroundings. And he’s a horse that needs to be comfortable with his surroundings. We expect a lot better effort this time.”

Sheriff Brown has six wins from 21 lifetime starts and has been second or third on eight other occasions to accumulate earnings of $232,811. Fourteen of those races were at a mile or less.

“I’ve always wanted to try him at a longer distance, like a mile and a quarter,” Fencher said. “There are a lot of unknowns, but we’re going to try it.”

Edwin Maldonado, aboard for the San Diego, has the call in the Classic.