$1-Million Pacific Classic Leads Del Mar Weekend

Del Mar's richest and most prestigious race, the $1,000,000 Pacific Classic (Gr. I), takes place on Sunday, August 25.

Game on Dude, the top handicap runner on the West Coast, will lead a salty field postward in the Sunday feature at Del Mar, the $1 million Pacific Classic S. (G1). Trained by Bob Baffert, the gelded son of Awesome Again has won five straight, including the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) most recently, and will try to avenge his game runner-up finish in this race a year ago.

Defending champ Dullahan will ship in for this one for Dale Romans, and the synthetic-loving four-year-old is always a factor on this oval. Chestnut son of Even the Score is a multiple Grade 1 winner with a big turn of foot, and we loved his prep for this when a closing third on the Arlington lawn. Grade 2 winner Blueskiesnrainbows was a solid third in the Cougar II (G3) on this surface last time and could be a big danger with the cut back in trip today for Jerry Hollendorfer, who continues to pile up stakes wins here.

Kettle Corn, who ran his best ever in taking the San Diego H. (G1) over the superb Paynter, has shown big improvement in his last pair since adding blinkers and might have the best upset chance in the field. Grade 1 hero Liaison, impressive Eddie Read S. (G1) victor Jeranimo, Richard’s Kid, who took this race twice and had a nice prep win last time out on this Polytrack, the lightly raced Euro import Farraaj and Canadian invader Delegation, who romped home by more than nine lengths in the Dominion Day (Can-G3) at Woodbine, should help make this a very good betting race.

The undercard on Sunday is a good one, with a pair of other Grade 2 races. Among the top draws for the $250,000 Pat O’Brien H. (G2) include exceptional allowance winner Wine Police, Sahara Sky, who bagged the Met Mile (G1) in his latest run, Grade 2 victor Handsome Mike, the well-bred Fed Biz, who was a stakes winner in his lone previous run on this oval and Batti Man, a sneaky-good third in the San Diego H. (G2) last time.

In the $200,000 Del Mar Mile (G2), the sensational Obviously, who scored in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) last time, will be the one to catch and beat for trainer Mike Mitchell.
Saturday will play host to the $200,000 Del Mar H. (G2) at 11 furlongs on the lawn.

The Pacific Classic will be the 9th race on an 11-race card Sunday at Del Mar with a special first post of 1pm PT.  Post time for the big race should be approximately 5:45pm PT.

Del Mar 2013 Summer Racing Wagering

One of the most popular selections at the track – the Pick Six – will be presented once more with guaranteed pools on all racing days. The bet, which requires that fans pick the winners of the last six races on the day’s card and often results in large payoffs, will have a guaranteed pool of $125,000 on weekdays and $250,000 on weekends.

As it also has for the past two years, the track additionally will offer guaranteed pools on its Pick Four bet, requiring the selection of the winners for the day’s final four events. The guaranteed pool for this .50¢-minimum wager is $250,000 on weekdays and $500,000 on weekends.

A bet that was instituted in 2011 – the .50¢ Player’s Pick Five – continues on the betting menu again this season. The wager requires picking the winners of the day’s first five races and will be available at a minimum price of .50¢. It carries the additional advantage of having a takeout of only 14%.

The full array of Del Mar bets is as follows: $2 win, place and show; $1 Exacta; $2 Quinella; $1 Trifecta; $2 rolling Double; $1 rolling Pick Three; $1 Superfecta (.10¢ minimum); $1 Place Pick All; $1 Super High Five; $2 Pick Six; .50¢ Player’s Pick Five, and .50¢ Pick Four.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club 2013 Summer Meet

Del Mar 2013 Summer Racing Dates: July 17 through September 4

Del Mar Thoroughbred Racing Schedule: Del Mar will conduct a 37-day meeting, racing on a Wednesday through Sunday basis up until Wednesday, September 4. There will be one additional day added to the seven-week schedule – a holiday program on Labor Day Monday, September 2

Del Mar 2013 Summer Post Time: First post on most days will be at 2 p.m. with the exception of Fridays when cards start at 4 p.m.

Del Mar Race Track Information

main track data: 1-mile oval; a Polytrack surface was installed in 2007; chutes of 7 furlongs and 1¼ miles; stretch length: 919 feet;
infield grass course: Jimmy Durante Turf Course, 7-furlong oval, with a diagonal chute that allows for races up to
11/8 miles.
total Del Mar fairgrounds acreage: 350
stable accommodations: 2,100
additional amenities: Features an extra video and timing system - Trakus - installed in 2007; offers a parallel website - www.delmarscene.com - aimed at younger racing fans