The Pacific Classic Stakes 2022 has a purse of just over $1m and all eyes will be on the John W. Sadler-trained FLIGHTLINE as his star 4 year-old puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Del Mar contest this Saturday. The Sadler barn will also be looking for their fourth Pacific Classic win since 2018, having landed the pot 12 months ago with Tripoli (watch below).
Flightline, who has won all four career starts, will face his biggest threat from the Bob Baffert runner Country Grammer, who landed the Dubai World Cup back in March and returned at the end of July with a fair silver medal in the Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. Therefore, the horse racing betting sites have both Flightline and Country Grammer at the head of their markets and it would be a big shock if one of these star names isn’t picking up the 2022 Pacific Classic at Del Mar this weekend.
When Is The 2022 Pacific Classic Stakes?
Run over 1m 2f, the Grade I Pacific Classic Stakes is staged at Del Mar racetrack in California
📅Date: Saturday September 3, 2022
🏇Racetrack: Del Mar racetrack, California, (Dirt)
💰 Purse: $1,000,000
📺 TV: FanDuel TV
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Flightline Puts Unbeaten Record On The Line In Pacific Stakes 2022
Flightline is yet to taste defeat as a racehorse and will come into Saturday’s Pacific Stakes 4-from-4 after top wins at Santa Anita, Del Mar and Belmont Park. This classy 4 year-old was last seen winning the Grade I Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 11 by an remarkable 6 lengths (watch below)
That run came over 1m and with his three previous runs over 6f and 7f, then the big question is will he stay the 1m2f trip? His breeding (by Tapit) suggests the extra yardage is just about within range and it’s fair to say he was hardly stopping last time over a mile which further backs up his ability to last out the additional two furlongs.
With four of the last five Pacific Classic Stakes winners aged 4 years-old, then Flightline also has this key age trend on his side.
He’s also a proven track winner at Del Mar and it’s hard to not be taken by the aggregate total of 44 lengths from his four career wins to date. Jockey Flavien Prat, who rode the winner for Sadler in this race in 2019 (Higher Power) has ridden Flightline in all career starts and will remain in the saddle.
John W. Sadler (trainer) “This is not an ordinary horse, this is a very special horse. There is a lot of pressure on you, but it is the pressure you want. You know you have something special and he is much the best. You just don’t want to screw it up.”
“This is a tough ask. To go from a mile to a mile and a quarter in your fifth start, it’s not an easy thing. But we feel he is capable of doing it because he’s that kind of a horse.”
Bill Farish, (co-owner) “I think everything he has done sets him apart. Flightline is the creme de la creme. He rises echelons above the stars we see every year that come and go. Rarely have we ever had a horse at any level that the trainer has said from work one this is something seriously special.”
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John W. Sadler Eyes Fourth Pacific Classic Stakes Win Since 2018
The record of the John W. Sadler barn in the Pacific Stakes is hard to fault. They’ve mopped up three successes in this race since 2018, including 12 months ago with Tripoli (watch below).
Their first win in the race was with Accelerate in 2018 and followed that up a year later in 2019 with Higher Power.
Country Grammer Looks To Write His Name In Pacific Stakes Roll Of Honour
The main threat to Flightline remaining unbeaten will come from the Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer. This 5 year-old took the Dubai World Cup (watch below) on March 10 at Meydan and from his 10 career runs has amassed $10,897,320 in total prize money, while since joining Baffert in April 21 the horse is yet to finish out of the first two (5 runs).
The Baffert camp put him away after that lucrative win in March, but he returned at the end of July with a fair second in the Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar, to blow away the cobwebs. And also had last year’s Pacific Classic winner – Tripoli – way back in 6th (beaten 6 lengths).
With that run under his belt, he’ll be spot on for this and should be much more at home back up in trip with that last run coming over 1m 1/2f. His last two outings over the Pacific Classic distance of 1m2f have been winning ones, so we know he’s got the stamina credentials for this race.
All is set up for a ‘must-see’ renewal – who’s your money on?
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Bob Baffert Has Six Pacific Classic Stakes Wins To His Name
The powerful Bob Baffert team have an incredible six wins under their belt in the Pacific Classic Stakes – and need just one more to be the winning-most yard in this race. They currently share the spoils with the mighty Robert J. Frankel, who also has six successes to his name in this event.
Baffert’s first win in the Pacific Classic Stakes came back in 1999 with General Challenge, while his most recent was in 2020 with Maximum Security – meaning between them Sadler and Baffert have won ALL of the last five runnings of this Grade I!
Pacific Classic Stakes 2022 Runners and Riders
1. EXTRA HOPE @ 30-1 with BetOnline
Trainer: Richard Manella
Jockey: Tyler Baze
Age: 6
Form:6-6-6-2-3
Six races without a success, with that last win coming on November 21 2020! Just three runs this year but took a slight step forward last time when only 1 1/4 lengths back in third in the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at Del Mar over 1m4f. His trainer, Richard Mandella has a fine record in the race with four wins that stretch from 1996 to 2015. However, we’ve only had one winning 6 year-old of this race since 2005 and regardless of that stat it would be a major upset if Extra Hope is taking this.
2. COUNTRY GRAMMER @ 4-1 with BetOnline
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: John Velazquez
Age: 5
Form: 2-1-2-1-2
Certainly looks the main threat to lowering the colours of Flightline. From the powerful Bob Baffert yard that have six past success in this race and need just one more to overtake Robert Frankel. This 5 year-old landed the lucrative Dubai World Cup at Meydan back on March 26 (watch below) and returned at the end of July with a fair second in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap. And also had last year’s Pacific Classic winner – Tripoli – way back in 6th (beaten 6 lengths).
He’ll be sharper today and his backers will know he stays this 1m2f trip well, while since joining Baffert in April 21 the horse is yet to finish out of the first two (5 runs). Those looking to take on Flightline are likely to be drawn to Country Grammer, who has amassed just under $10.9m in total prize money, while if successful will be jockey John Velazquez’s first win in this race.
3. ROYAL SHIP @ 8-1 with BetOnline
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Jockey: Mike Smith
Age: 6
Form: 2-3-7-1-3-1
Another from the Richard Mandella barn that have recorded four wins in this Grade 1 and certainly won’t be without his supporters. He was the horse that beat Country Grammer last time in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 31 and had 2 1/4 lengths in-hand at the winning post.
The worry for him though might be the step back up in trip, with all three recent runs over this 1m2f distance resulting in defeats. Regular jockey Mike Smith gets the leg-up again and with four past wins in this race (2002, 2009, 2010 and 2014) he’ll have bundles of experience in the saddle. Not with a chance in the trifecta.
4. EXPRESS TRAIN @ 12-1 with BetOnline
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Age: 5
Form: 6-3-1-1-1-2
Has a decent record on the dirt with 6 wins and 13 top three finishes from 15 outings. Last seen grabbing a fair silver medal in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on April 30, so will come here fresher than most. Course winner at Del Mar too after winning the 2021 running of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap and will have jockey Victor Espinoza, who won this race on California Chrome in 2016, doing the steering. Will be a popular pick for the trifecta players.
5. FLIGHTLINE @ 1-5 with BetOnline
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Age: 4
Form: 1-1-1-1
The horse all eyes will be on here. Flightline is unbeaten from his opening four race and has landed those contests by a remarkable total of 44 lengths. No secret that connections think he can go to the very top, but will need to take another big step forward here if he’s to live up to his already growing reputation.
Last seen bolting up in the Grade 1 Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 11 by an easy 6 lengths (watch below).
He’s already being touted as a contender to challenge the English-trained Baaeed as the highest-rated horse in training and with Saturday’s Pacific Classic a ‘win and you’re in’ Breeders’ Cup race, then all eyes will be on Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 5 after this.
Those looking to take him on will not have much to cling to, but with this being this first attempt beyond a mile, then not getting the 1m2f trip will be all his doubters have to go on. So far, his wins have been over 6f, 7f and 1m (last time), but being by Tapit his breeding suggests this extra yardage is within range – we’ll find out on Saturday!
6. STILLETO BOY @ 20-1 with BetOnline
Trainer: Ed Moger Jr
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Age: 4
Form: 3-3-3-1-4-3
Another of the likely outsiders and based on his last run at Del Mar has a fair bit of ground to make up. He was third – beaten 6 1/2 lengths – in the already mentioned Grade 2 San Diego Handicap and with Royal Ship (1st) and Country Grammer (2nd) in that race then he’s got form to turn around on two others in this race. He’s also back up to 1m2f here and that’s not a plus either, with his three recent tries over this distance all losses.
Note: Odds are subject to change
Recent Pacific Classic Stakes Winners
- 2021 – TRIPOLI
- 2020 – MAXIMUM SECURITY
- 2019 – HIGHER POWER
- 2018 – ACCELERATE
- 2017 – COLLECTED
- 2016 – CALIFORNIA CHROME
- 2015 – BEHOLDER
- 2014 – SHARED BELIEF
Watch Tripoli Winning The 2021 Pacific Classic Stakes
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