Dateline: 08/07/97

Dare and Go, winner Pacific Classic 1996

The 7th running of the $1 million Pacific Classic is Saturday August 9th and a field of six is set to go. The race looks to be a two horse contest between Siphon and Gentlemen, two of the top older horses in the country and both trained by Richard Mandella. Mandella won the Pacific Classic last year, upsetting the great Cigar's attempt to break Citation's record for consequetive wins. Even though the others look to be running for third place at best, with this kind of purse that is still a very nice payday: $600,000 guaranteed to winner, $200,000 to second, $120,000 to third, $60,000 to fourth and $20,000 to fifth.

PP  Horse            Jockey       Weight Trainer     Odds
 1  Crafty Friend    A Solis       124   W Dollase    5-1
 2  Percutant (GB)   C Nakatani    124   J Dupuis    12-1
 3  Siphon (Brz)     C McCarron    124   R Mandella   9-5
 4  River Keen (Ire) K Desormeaux  124   R Hess       9-2
 5  Lord Jain (Arg)  R Douglas     124   B Baffert   30-1
 6  Gentlemen (Arg)  G Stevens     124   R Mandella   6-5

Best Pal Pacific Classic 1996

Gentlemen is favored slightly over his stablemate since he beat him last out in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Siphon was coming off a bit of a lay-off in that race and should improve here. Both of these are nice runners and it will be a treat to see the rivalry renewed again.

The race will be televised on ESPN from 5:30-6:00pm EDT and Best Pal will be back to lead the post parade again this year.

Update:
No surprises today as Crafty Friend set the early pace with Siphon just behind. Siphon and Gentlemen moved past him together in the final turn but Gentlemen drew away in the stretch to win easily in 2:00.56. Here are a few pictures:

Pacific Classic info on the web:

Cigar Pacific Classic 1996

• Del Mar's Pacific Classic page includes a Real Video clip of the race.
• Program for the Pacific Classic card from Del Mar
• Past Performance data for the Pacific Classic from Track Master and Del Mar
• Equibase Pacific Classic page includes program pages with past performances and the chart afterwards.
• Live audio/video over the net from Del Mar
• Live odds board from Del Mar and SuperTote
• Archived chat with Richard Mandella from Del Mar last week
• Del Mar Stable Notes get the latest scoop here
• More photos from last year's Pacific Classic I was there and took lots of photos
• Eddie Mac at the Track analyzes the Pacific Classic
• Brad's BIG Race Analysis nice photo of Cigar too
• American Turf Montly analysis by Noel Michaels

Previous Features

Pacific Classic logo courtesy of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club