DEL MAR, Calif. – The defection of Nysos from the Grade 1 Pacific Classic transforms one of the most compelling races of summer into a virtual two-horse duel between Grade 1 winners.
Journalism is the revised even-money favorite for the Pacific Classic after early favorite Nysos scratched with a foot issue. The 3-year-old Journalism will be facing older horses for the first time, and though his price is short, the Pacific Classic is no walkover.
Fierceness arrived in California from New York midweek, and the 4-year-old Todd Pletcher trainee will seek redemption at Del Mar after finishing fifth as the favorite in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. Fierceness is the 8-5 second favorite on the revised morning line.
The 2025 edition of the Pacific Classic might not be one for the ages, but it is still a good race in which both Journalism and Fierceness have something to prove. Nysos also will have something to prove when he returns, as he has never raced beyond 1 1/16 miles.
Nysos scratched from the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic with what trainer Bob Baffert described as a hind-foot issue. It is unclear how the setback will influence his autumn campaign. Baffert said “it looks minor.”
Journalism is 6 for 9 with three Grade 1 victories, but he has never faced older horses. Fierceness is a 6-for-12 champion whose mid-pack finish as the favorite last out blurs his form. Five others in the Pacific Classic field are not impossible, though they are up against it.
Midnight Mammoth, the 8-1 third choice on the revised line, won a Del Mar Grade 3 marathon by more than 10 lengths last year and ran second last out in a Grade 2 at Santa Anita. Indispensable, at 12-1, won a fast Del Mar allowance last out. A pair of 15-1 longshots are Ultimate Gamble and Tarantino, while Lure Him In remains at 20-1.
The Pacific Classic, race 10 on an 11-race card, is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Journalism has finished behind only one horse this year – Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty. Journalism finished second in both races. The Grade 1 wins by Journalism include the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness, and Haskell.
Journalism’s trainer, Michael McCarthy, acknowledged the class hike Saturday.
“It would be nice to run against straight 3-year-olds,” he said.
But 3-year-olds are not at a disadvantage in the Pacific Classic, with a six-pound weight break (118 to 124). Since the inaugural inaugural Pacific Classic in 1991, 3-year-olds are 6 for 19 in the race. Umberto Rispoli rides Journalism, whose Aug. 23 work indicated his ambitious 2025 campaign has not taken any toll. He worked five furlongs in 1:00 and galloped out a mile in 1:39.40 on McCarthy’s watch.
Journalism answers the bell every time. He has raced this year at five tracks in five states and won his only Del Mar start last fall in a maiden race. Journalism has repeatedly shown that the longer he goes, the better he runs. Umberto Rispoli rides Journalism, who has won six races and more than $3.7 million from nine starts.
Fierceness, the 2023 champion juvenile male, misfired last out in the Grade 1 Whitney, a race that did not set up well for him, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.
“Some minor things during the course of the race weren’t perfect,” Pletcher said. “[He] kind of got stuck out wide on the first turn, got a little aggressive when the pacesetter buzzed him on the outside, had to avoid a horse stopping in front of him on the far turn, and ultimately got to the lead a little sooner than [jockey John Velazquez] wanted to.”
Fierceness finished fifth, beaten less than six lengths.
“He’s come back and trained lights-out,” Pletcher said. “We felt like we wanted his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic to be this weekend instead of Sept. 27” in the Grade 2 Woodward at Aqueduct.
The main track at Del Mar has played fast recently, which benefits Fierceness, runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar last fall. Velazquez retains the mount Saturday.
An upset candidate is Indispensable, trained by John Sadler.
“He showed an affinity for this track,” Sadler said, referring to two fast races last summer and a fast allowance win last month. “I know he only won a non-winners of one, but he ran a very good number again."
Indispensable will need higher than his last-out 95 Beyer Speed Figure to win Saturday. Sadler, who has won the Pacific Classic four times in seven years, expects late-running Indispensable to improve in his third start back under jockey Paco Lopez.
Indispensable “has the right spacing. We think that distance is going to be good for him.” Sadler said. “He’s kind of a grinder. It’s really about class. Can he step up with those proven classier horses?”
Tarantino, whose ability to stay a mile and one-quarter is uncertain, is likely to set or press the pace. Jockey Edwin Maldonado will let Tarantino use his speed, which will be fine, according to trainer Peter Eurton.
“That’s his weapon. You can’t take that away,” Eurton said.
From the outside post in a field of seven, Tarantino will set or press the pace. Fierceness and Midnight Mammoth also will be forwardly placed.
Ultimate Gamble moves up in class after winning a fast allowance race via disqualification. He earned a 92 Beyer and has trained super since.
“He’s training better than he ever has,” trainer Mark Glatt said. “I know we’re up against it, but I think he’ll like that mile and a quarter. He’ll kind of plug along. Maybe he’ll hit the board.”
Hitting the board in the Pacific Classic became a lot easier with the defection of Nysos. But it still looks like a two-horse race between Journalism and Fierceness.
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