August 21, 2005
The best older horses of the west coast traditionally face off in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, with the ultimate goal being the Breeders' Cup Classic. In this year's edition, a field of eleven (including one mare, 38-1 outsider Island Fashion) went to post in this $1 million event run at weight-for-age conditions over 1 1/4 miles on the main track.
As expected, Hollywood Gold Cup winner Lava Man was bet down to 3-2 favoritism, with Washington Park Handicap winner Perfect Drift the second choice at 9-2. Lava Man raced true to form most of the way, going right to the front under jockey Pat Valenzuela and angling towards the rail first time past the stands to save ground around the clubhouse turn. Battling for the lead with 5-1 third choice Surf Cat just to his outside, he rattled off decent fractions of 22.68, 45.90, 1:10.35, and 1:35.35 over the lightning-fast track.
When the field straightened out for the last time, Valenzuela asked Lava Man for run and got it, as the favorite surged clear by 2 1/2 lengths with just a furlong to the wire. However, he finally succumbed to the brisk pace and shortened his stride, as 11-1 longshot Borrego made his rally from ninth to just get up for the win, by 1/2 a length over another late charger, second choice Perfect Drift. The time was 2:00.71 for the ten-furlong event. Rounding the far turn, Valenzuela pulled up Lava Man and dismounted at the 6 1/2 furlong pole. Lava Man was vanned off the track, suffering from heat exhaustion but a full recovery is expected.
Results chart from DRF
Jockey Garrett Gomez, celebrating his third Pacific Classic win, said, "He ran really good. I have so much confidence in this horse. I knew it was just a matter of time before he broke through and put the icing on the cake for us. I got the trip I wanted. He was running good for me all the way. And I got some help coming home. When Choctaw (Nation) came up outside of me, my horse just dug in and tried harder. He's run with them all."
Winning trainer, co-owner, and breeder Beau Greely said, "I don't even know it happened yet. I've won some Grade Is and I've had a few seconds, but this is something really special. Being breeder, owner and trainer of the horse is really awesome. And he's my first Kentucky Derby horse. Garrett, of course, has had his struggles, but he is a super jockey. He's always been a great rider. He has great hands and he sits quiet on a horse."
Murray Johnson, trainer of 2nd place finisher Perfect Drift said, "It would have been nice to win, but that's horse racing. We showed up and ran a big race. The post was no factor at all. He was on the rail. The rider rode a cool race, sat him back where he needed to be. They went quick up front and we came home with a big run, but Borrego came with a bigger run."
Patrick Valenzuela, aboard beaten favorite Lava Man said, "I'm trying the best I can to slow it down and (Surf Cat) is on me. My horse ran great, but he just fell apart the last 20 yards. He lost his air. I got off him after the race; I was concerned about him. I didn't know if he was hurt or not, but I didn't want any weight on him if he was." Trainer Doug O'Neill added, "Maybe he had a little heat exhaustion. He stumbled a couple of times and Patrick pulled him up and jumped right off. He was a little rubber-legged and that's why Pat pulled him up. He walked right on the van fine and walked right off."
On the undercard, eight older horses went to post in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Handicap, a $300,000 sprint over 7 furlongs. 8-1 shot Imperialism sat at the back of the pack through the entire backstretch trip, then went 4 wide around the turn and rallied strongly to get up for a 3/4 length win over 15-1 Gotaghostofachance in a time of 1:21.70. Even-money favorite Unfurl The Flag raced with the pace early, was wide around the turn, and flattened out through the stretch, finishing seventh.
Results chart from DRF
Winning jockey Victor Espinoza said, "I had a great trip. I know how to ride this horse. Kristin (trainer Mulhall) didn't tell me anything special. She didn't have to. I could tell they were going fast up there and I knew that was good. And I didn't want to go down inside and get in the crowd. I wanted to stay wide with him. At the 3/8 pole I just touched him a little bit with the whip and he took right off. He is such a classy horse."
Mulhall added, "When he was rolling on the turn, I thought we were going to see the old boy again. He's been training so well; I really thought he was going to run a big race today. He's only had five works in the last five or six months, so he hasn't done a whole lot. He was about 80 percent today. We think we can stretch him out again. If everything's OK after this race, we'll probably go on to The Jockey Club Gold Cup [at Belmont Park October 1] and possibly the Breeders' Cup [Classic]."
