Del Mar's Pacific Classic 2016 video preview featuring California Chrome, Beholder, and Dortmund

In case you missed it at The Runaway Horse, here is my Del Mar week 5 recap + Pacific Classic video preview.

Wednesday, August 10

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 6f, 6.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at five furlongs, a front runner at one mile, a patient runner at one mile, and and a stalker at 8.5f (rail at 30 feet).

Kent Desormeaux, Santiago Gonzalez, and Flavien Prat each booted home a pair.

Thursday, August 11

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at one mile, a patient runner at one mile, and and a stalker at five furlongs (rail at 30 feet).

Rafael Bejarano booted home a pair on turf. Mike Puype saddled two winners at one mile on dirt.

Friday, August 12

Fast main track and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner at one mile, a stalker at one mile, and a patient runner at five furlongs (rail at 12 feet).

Norberto Arroyo Jr. booted home a pair.

Why Two stalked, pounced, and kicked away to win the Green Flash Handcap by a length and a half for Arroya/Machowsky. My top choice Richard's Boy was 2nd and 55-1 outsider Horse Laugh was up for the show.

Saturday, August 13

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5.5f, 6.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at 8.5f, a closer at 8.5f, and patient runner at eleven furlongs, and a front runner at nine furlongs (rail at 12 feet).

Santiago Gonzalez guided home four winners. Rafael Bejarano rode three winners and Tyler Baze booted home a pair.

Baffert first timer Big Gray Rocket took a ton of money in the 7th race but blew the break and ended up 2nd behind 14-1 LA-bred debut winner Superior Status (Baze/Mullins). One race later, Baffert the prize he really wanted when Klimt easily captured the G2 Best Pal Stakes over Big League and Thirstforlife.

Sunday, August 14

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners at 5.5 furlongs on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at five furlongs, a stalker at one mile, a front runner at one mile, and a stalker at one mile (rail at 12 feet).

Rafael Bejarano and Flavien Prat both booted home a pair.

Bob Baffert was at in again on Sunday with smart debut 2-year-old filly winner American Gal. Fellow first timer Partyinthepaddock was clearly second best and another Baffert firster Facts of Life was along for the show.

My Sunday Best Bet Majestic Heat did not have an easy go of it but she did hold on by a nose from the outside post in the Solana Beach Handicap. 14-1 longshot Tiz a Kiss just missed and second betting choice Singing Kitty checked in 3rd.

Pacific Classic Video Analysis

This is the race we have been waiting for! Defending champion Beholder will take on California Chrome and Dortmund in what figures to be an outstanding renewal of the Pacific Classic. The supporting stakes on Saturday are the G2 Del Mar Handicap and G1 Del Mar Oaks.

The G2 Del Mar Mile on Sunday, Aug 21 wraps up the biggest graded stakes weekend of the meet.

Del Mar week 3 recap: Stellar Wind beats Beholder and American Cleopatra wins debut

The third week of live racing is in the books at Del Mar and highlights included Stellar Wind upending Beholder in the Clement L Hirsch and American Pharaoh's sister American Cleopatra winning her debut.

Wednesday, July 27

Fast main track and firm turf course. The dirt speed bias that appeared on Sunday, July 17 finally disappeared. There were no wire-to-wire winners on the dirt oval Wednesday. The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at five furlongs and a closer at 8.5 furlongs (rail at 24 feet).

Rafael Bejarano booted home a pair.

Gold Rush Dancer made a smooth transition from turf-to-dirt to capture the Real Good Deal Stakes at odds of 14-1 under jockey Flavien Prat. Tough it Out was 2nd and Mrazek finished 3rd.

I got home the late Pick 4 on July 27 at Pick 6 Blog. The winning .50 cent Late Pick 4 ticket paid $588.55.

Thursday, July 28

Fast main track and firm turf course. Forwardly placed runners performed well on dirt and there was one wire job winner in the 5.5f finale. The winning turf course running styles were a dueling early runner at five furlongs, a patient type at one mile, and another patient runner at eleven furlongs (rail at 24 feet).

I am offering Del Mar weekend full cards and they are available to purchase on The Runaway Horse Sales Page.

I am also posting daily free Del Mar picks on The Runaway Horse Free Picks Page and bonus free Del Mar plays here.

Friday, July 29

Fast main track and firm turf course. Forwardly placed runners performed well on dirt and there was one wire job winner at 5.5f. The winning turf course running styles were a dueling early runner at one mile, a stalker at a mile and a sixteenth, and a front runner at a mile and a sixteenth (rail at 12 feet).

Three wins for leading rider Flavien Prat. Jamie Theriot booted home a pair.

You're Late beat Love a Honeybadger and race favorite My California in the CTBA Stakes. Stewart Elliott rode the winner for Jeff Bonde.

With Honors (Keith Desormeaux) and Elwood J (Jerry Hollendofer) both looked good winning juvenile races on Friday.

Saturday, July 30

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5.5f, 5.5f, 8f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner at 9f, a front runner at five furlongs, and a closer at one mile (rail at 12 feet).

Tyler Baze and Victor Espinoza both booted home a pair.

An impressive maiden win turned in by Big League in the 3rd race. What'sontheagenda was a clear 2nd and Blame Joe was up for the show. Peter Miller trains the winner for Rockingham Ranch.

Trainer Jeff Bonde won another 2-year-old filly race with Miss Sunset.

Stellar Wind turned the tables on Beholder in a stellar renewal of the G1 Clement L. Hirsch. Beholder looked like the controlling speed on paper but Victor Espinoza put Stellar Wind in the race earlier and that made all the difference.

Sunday, July 31

Fast main track and firm turf course. Forwardly placed runners performed well on dirt with two wire-to-wire winners (5.5f, 6.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner at 9f, a stalker at one mile, and a midpack stalker at 5f (rail at 12 feet). 

Stewart Elliott booted home a pair. Bob Baffert saddled three winners and Elliott rode two. 

American Pharoah's juvenile sister American Cleopatra was seemingly dead on the board at 7-1 but that did not stop her from going virtually wire-to-wire and easily graduating in her debut. Everybody was so focused on the winner after the race that they forgot about the excellent effort turned in by runner-up Union Strike. The Union Rags first timer broke slow and showed professionalism while racing along the inside, splitting horses in traffic, and finishing a clear 2nd after finding racing room in the lane.

Lord Nelson sat a perfect outside stalking trip en route to an easy four length score in the G1 Bing Crosby. He has turned into one of the top sprinters in the country for Bob Baffert.

* American Pharoah photo by Stacy Edwards