Skimming, winner of the 2000 Pacific Classic

Dateline: 08/26/00

Trainer Bobby Frankel stamped himself as the hottest trainer at any track when he took his second $1 million race in two weeks and his 5th Pacific Classic in 10 runnings. He followed up his win last Saturday in the $2 million Arlington Million with Chester House with a win in the $1 million Pacific Classic with Juddmonte Farms' Skimming. As expected, General Challenge was the heavy favorite at 0.90-1 but he never really got into the race and finished a lackluster 4th. After the race, his trainer Bob Baffert said: "When he was making a move I thought he was going to do good, but he came up empty. He seems like he has some kind of heat stroke right now." There was a late jockey change to Laffit Pincay when General Challenge's regular jockey Corey Nakatani broke his collar bone in a fall in the 6th race. Skimming, who went off at 4.70-1, took the lead early and never looked back winning by 2 lengths over Tiznow who chased him in second most of the way. Ecton Park made a late rally to get 3rd by a half length over General Challenge.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 5   Skimming           Gomez           11.40    6.40  4.80
 4   Tiznow             McCarron                 5.00  4.20
 6   Ecton Park         Desormeaux                     4.80

Winning Time:  2:01.22

$1 Exacta 5-4                25.20
$2 Quinella 5-4              28.80
$1 Trifecta 5-4-6           128.10

Entries and background info
Beautiful Del Mar - a photo tour

The field goes by the first time with Skimming already out front, Forty One Carats second, and Tiznow in third.

Garrett Gomez celebrating his win on Skimming as he approaches the finish line. After the race he said: "We were cookin’ out there; I knew that. But I was just riding him the way Bobby (trainer Robert Frankel) told me to. Bobby said ‘Leave him alone and let him do what he wants.’ So I did. I was a little surprised that Eddie’s horse (Eddie Delahoussaye on Forty One Carats) pushed me some early, but we were ready for it. He just kept on going. He answered every question today. There was a matter of the distance, but he answered that one today. I never hit him; not once. I don’t know what would have happened if a horse had come to him late and I had to hit him, but he might have had another gear yet. He was trying all the way. This is the biggest win of my career, no doubt about it."

The horses enter the paddock for the Pacific Classic.

Skimming in the walking ring. When his trainer Bobby Frankel was asked where Skimming ranked with the best horses he has had, he said: "I can¹t really put him up there right now. He ran a great race today. I love the little guy. It was a perfect day, but I¹m not going to say he¹s up with the best of my horses right now. He¹s a very good horse, but I¹ve had a lot of very good horses."

Tiznow in the paddock. His jockey Chris McCarron said: "He ran great. I thought I could get him (frontrunner and winner Skimming). All the way around I thought I could get him. My horse was trying and trying and I thought I’d get there. Then the wire came up."

Ecton Park in the post parade. His trainer Elliott Walden said: "He was struggling a bit early and then he made a good finish; he picked it up some. I was reasonably pleased. We came out her to win, but we hit the board and he finished well."

General Challenge in the post parade. His jockey Laffit Pincay said: "Bob told me to ‘Let him break and get into his stride.’ I did and I saved ground with him all around the turn. At the half-mile pole I thought I was in a great position. But there was no fire in him then. I asked, but it wasn’t there."

The connections celebrate as Skimming comes back after the race.

Prince Khalid Abdullah's son Ahmed gives Skimming a pat on the nose in the winner's circle.

Ahmed Abdullah, Garrett Gomez, and Bobby Frankel at the post race press conference.

The 3rd race on the undercard was the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for the sprinting fillies and mares. Teresa's Tizzy was a slight favorite over Hookedonthefeelin at 1.90-1 and she duelled with that rival most of the way to win by a neck over Nanys Sweep as Hookedonthefeelin faded to third. Results Chart from Equibase

Photos by Cindy Pierson

Previous Features