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Unveiling the Enduring Legacy of Del Mar's Signature Race

The Genesis of a Grand Tradition: Founding and First Victory

The vision for the Pacific Classic originated with the late John Mabee, a co-founder of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Driven by a desire for a flagship race at his track, Mabee championed its establishment. In a remarkable turn of events, his own three-year-old champion, Best Pal, claimed victory in the inaugural running of the race in 1991, setting a powerful precedent for its future.

Flightline's Dominance: A Display of Unparalleled Prowess

The 2022 Horse of the Year, Flightline, etched his name into Pacific Classic history with two extraordinary achievements. He started at the lowest winning odds ever recorded for the race, paying just $2.60 on a $2 bet, and surged to an astonishing 19 1/4-length victory. Jockey Flavien Prat eased him in the final strides, yet his performance remains a benchmark of equine superiority.

The Uncommon Hue: A Gray Champion's Triumph

Among the 35 victors of the Pacific Classic, only a single horse has sported a gray or roan coat. Free House broke this mold in 1998, becoming the sole non-bay or chestnut winner to grace the winner's circle.

The Enduring Competitors: Multiple Appearances on the Grand Stage

Three horses have showcased remarkable longevity and dedication by participating in the Pacific Classic four times: Awesome Gem (2007, ’08, 09, ’10), Richard’s Kid (2009, ’10, ’12, ’13), and Game On Dude (2011, ’12, ’13, ’14). Richard’s Kid secured consecutive wins in 2009 and 2010, while Game On Dude also triumphed in 2013, demonstrating their sustained excellence.

The Training Titans: Frankel and Baffert's Reign

Early in the race's history, the revered Hall of Fame trainer Robert Frankel dominated, securing six of the first eleven Pacific Classic titles. His success was so profound that discussions arose about renaming the event the Frankel Classic. However, another legendary Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert, later surpassed this record, winning the race an impressive seven times, further solidifying his status in the sport.

Feminine Fierceness: Beholder's Historic Victory

Throughout the years, six exceptional fillies and mares have challenged their male counterparts in the Pacific Classic. Only one has emerged victorious, and she did so with remarkable flair. The esteemed racemare Beholder claimed the 2015 edition with an emphatic 8 1/4-length win, proving that gender is no barrier to greatness on the track.

The Roots of Champions: Breeding Success Stories

Seven California-bred horses have triumphed in the Pacific Classic, with California Chrome being the most recent in 2016. Unsurprisingly, Kentucky has produced the largest number of winners, accounting for 22 of the victories, a testament to its prominent breeding industry.

The Favorite's Fall: Cigar's Unforeseen Defeat

In 1996, the formidable Cigar, on a remarkable 16-race winning streak, arrived at Del Mar as the shortest-priced favorite ever in the Pacific Classic. With a victory, he would have set a new North American record for consecutive top-level wins. However, despite being sent off at 1-9 odds in a six-horse field, a fierce pace duel left the future Hall of Famer exhausted, allowing Dare And Go to snatch victory.

Longshot Legends: Unexpected Victories and Distant Finishes

Dare And Go's triumph in the 1996 Pacific Classic remains the biggest upset in the race's history, as the Richard Mandella-trained son of Alydar crossed the finish line at 39-1 odds, returning a staggering $81.20 to his backers. Conversely, Ayrton, a 185-1 longshot in 1998, finished a distant eighth behind Free House, marking the longest odds for any participant.

Blazing Speeds: Record-Setting Performances

The fastest running of the Pacific Classic on dirt belongs to Candy Ride, who completed the 1 1/4 miles in an incredible 1:59.11 in 2003, owned by Sydney and Jenny Craig and trained by Ron McAnally. During the eight years Del Mar used a polytrack surface (2007-2014), Dullahan set the synthetic track record at 1:59.54 in 2012.

The Unhurried Pace: Slowest Classic Records

The slowest Pacific Classic on the polytrack occurred in 2007, the first year of its use, when the 23-1 longshot Student Council, trained by Vladimir Cerin and ridden by Richard Migliore, finished in 2:07.29. On dirt, Higher Power holds the record for the slowest Classic, with a final time of 2:02.43 in 2019, trained by John Sadler and ridden by Flavien Prat.

A Photo Finish: Acclamation's Nail-Biting Victory

The most thrilling conclusion in Pacific Classic history unfolded in 2011, when Acclamation, a California-bred, led wire-to-wire, holding off a powerful late surge from Twirling Candy to win by a mere head with jockey Patrick Valenzuela aboard.

International Champions: Global Breeding Success

Two Pacific Classic winners were bred in Argentina: Candy Ride in 2003 and Gentlemen, who triumphed in 1997 under trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Gary Stevens. Only one England-bred horse has claimed Del Mar’s flagship race: Missionary Ridge, with Kent Desormeaux in the irons, achieved this feat in the race's second running in 1992.

Regional Triumphs: Florida and Maryland's Contributions

Just one Florida-bred has ever won the Pacific Classic; Go Between, shipped in by trainer Bill Mott and ridden to victory by Garrett Gomez in 2008. Similarly, only one Maryland-bred has captured the race, but he did so twice: Bob Baffert’s Richard’s Kid, with Mike Smith in the irons, took the honors in both 2009 and 2010.

Consecutive Crownings: Repeat Winners of the Classic

Beyond Richard's Kid, only two other horses have achieved the rare feat of back-to-back Pacific Classic victories: Tinners Way in 1994 and 1995, and Skimming in 2000 and 2001. Both Tinners Way and Skimming were trained by the esteemed Robert Frankel.

The Age Factor: Youth and Experience on the Track

No horse older than six years of age has ever won the Pacific Classic. Pleasantly Perfect and Game On Dude represent the eldest champions, both winning at six years old. Twelve winners have been five-year-olds, while a majority, fifteen, were four-year-olds when they secured the $1 million prize.

Youthful Victories: Three-Year-Old Challengers

Despite perceptions that three-year-olds might be too young for the Pacific Classic, history shows otherwise. Seventeen three-year-olds have competed, with six of them emerging victorious: Best Pal (1991), General Challenge (1999), Came Home (2002), Dullahan (2012), Shared Belief (2014), and Arabian Knight (2023), proving their capability to contend with older horses.

The Palette of Champions: Coat Colors of Victors

For those who consider a horse's coat color in their handicapping, the Pacific Classic has seen a diverse range of winners. Thirteen chestnuts, fourteen bays, and seven dark bay or brown horses have triumphed. As previously noted, only one gray or roan has ever claimed the title.

Field Dynamics: Size and Attendance Records

The largest field to start in a Pacific Classic was 14 horses in 2002, while the smallest was just four, occurring in 2003 when Candy Ride won. The average field size over the 35 runnings stands at 8.5 participants. The highest on-track attendance was recorded in 1996, with 44,181 spectators gathering to witness Cigar's highly anticipated appearance.

Financial Milestones: Wagering and Ownership Success

The highest total handle for a Pacific Classic was collected in 2021, with an impressive $36,024,030 wagered on the race won by the John Sadler-trained Tripoli. The most successful owner in Pacific Classic history is the Juddmonte Farm, founded by the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, which has celebrated victory four times.