Pacific Classic Stakes

Breeders' Cup Challenge Series > Pacific Classic Stakes

Pacific Classic Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Del Mar Racetrack, Del Mar, CA
  • Inaugural Race: 1991
  • Distance: 1 1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs)
  • Track Type: Left-Handed, Dirt
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds and up
  • 2023 Purse: $1,000,000
  • 2023 Race Date: Saturday, September 2nd

2023 Pacific Classic Stakes Race Results

POST
HORSE
JOCKEY / TRAINER
WIN / PLACE / SHOW
9
Arabian Knight
Flavien Prat / Bob Baffert
$6.20 / $4.40 / $3.60
1
Geaux Rocket Ride
Mike E. Smith / Richard E. Mandella
$4.00 / $2.80
7
Slow Down Andy
Mario Gutierrez / Doug F. O'Neill
$4.80
8
Senor Buscador
Geovanni Franco / Todd W. Fincher
11
Skinner
Hector Isaac Berrios / John A. Shirreffs
5
Defunded
Juan J. Hernandez / Bob Baffert
10
Piroli
Antonio Fresu / Michael W. McCarthy
4
Tripoli
Tiago Josue Pereira / John W. Sadler
6
Order and Law
Edwin A. Maldonado / Robert B. Hess, Jr.
3
Stilleto Boy
Kent J. Desormeaux / Ed Moger, Jr.

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1.00 Exacta (9-1) Paid: $13.20
  • $0.50 Trifecta (9-1-7) Paid: $46.80
  • $0.10 Superfecta (9-1-7-8) Paid: $43.77

Watch the 2023 Pacific Classic Stakes

Pacific Classic Stakes Race History

The Pacific Classic Stakes is a 1 14 mile thoroughbred horse race for 3 year and older horses run at the Del Mar Racetrack in California annually. The race gives a purse of $1,000,000 and is the premier event of the season at one of the nation's premier race meetings. It switched its main racing surface from dirt to synthetic Polytrack in 2007, perhaps leading to the victory of long shot Student Council that year, but starting in 2015 the race was reverted back to the dirt track.

Among the more notable runnings of the Pacific Classics Stakes is the 1996 edition that saw champion and hall of fame stallion Cigar attempt to surpass Triple Crown winner Citation's record of 16 straight victories, but ultimately fall short in a jaw-dropping upset by the long-shot Dare And Go and jockey Alex Solis. While it would be one of only two Grade I wins for Dare and Go, his performance etched his name in horse racing history.

One other fantastic edition of the race was in 2003 when Hall of Fame Jockey Julie Krone become the first female rider to win a million-dollar race by riding  undefeated Candy Ride to victory in track record time of 1:59:11, a record that still stands to this day. Although injuries forced him to retire after the win, Candy Ride went on to have a very successful stud record. He producing several Grade I winners, including Champion and Horse of the Year Gun Runner.

In 2015, 4-time champion and 3-time Breeders' Cup winner Beholder became the first female winner of the race, defeating an all-male field that included 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern. She won the race by an impressive 8 14 lengths and turned in the then-third fastest time.

In 2008 the Classic became a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, the winner of the race automatically earning a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Pacific Classic Stakes Past Winners

Year
Winner
Jockey / Trainer
Distance / Time
2023
Arabian Knight
Flavien Prat / Bob Baffert
1 1⁄4 M / 2:03.19
2022
Flightline
Flavien Prat / John W. Sadler
1 1⁄4 M / 1:59.28
2021
Tripoli
Tiago Josue Pereira / John W. Sadler
1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.37
2020
Maximum Security
Abel Cedillo / Bob Baffert
1 1⁄4 M / 2:01.24
2019
Higher Power
Flavien Prat / John W. Sadler
1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.43
2018
Accelerate
Joel Rosario / John W. Sadler
1 1⁄4 M / 2:01.83
2017
Collected
Martin Garcia / Bob Baffert
1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.70
2016
California Chrome
Victor Espinoza / Art Sherman
1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.13
2015
ƒ Beholder
Gary L. Stevens / Richard E. Mandella
1 1⁄4 M / 1:59.77
2014
Shared Belief
Mike E. Smith / Jerry Hollendorfer
1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.28