The 29th renewal of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, which comes up later today at beautiful Del Mar, is a challenge of a lifetime for all 10 of the entrants in the race, but also a handicapping and wagering challenge for those who choose to take part in the festivities.
Led by 3-to-1 morning line favorite Seeking The Soul, a narrow winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs last time out, the field for the 1 1/14 mile event is made up of an extraordinary mix of older thoroughbreds looking for a guaranteed spot in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be held later this fall just up the coast at Santa Anita Park.
Seeking The Soul, trained by Dallas Stewart, is a seven-time winner from 27 career starts and earnings topping $3.3 million. His most recent score ended a losing streak that dated back nearly nine months since he took top honors in the Ack Ack Stakes in September, 2018. The Kentucky-bred son of Perfect Soul will be making his Del Mar debut and will be racing at a distance he's proven unsuccessful over. John Velasquez once again will have the riding assignment aboard Seeking The Sould who will break from post 5 in the field.
A couple of examples of just how wide the Pacific Classic:
Only one of the ten runners actually have a win over the Del Mar main track. That distinction goes to the John Sadler-trained Campaign, who validated his status as the odds-on favorite last time winning the Cougar II Handicap last month. The combined record over the course for all ten runners in the Pacific Classic is 1-for-10.
Only one of the ten runners in the Pacific Classic have a win at the distance of 10 furlongs. That distinction, notably, goes to my top choice in the race, Tenfold, trained by Steve Asmussen. His lone win at this distance came two starts back, when he scored a mild upset in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special in Baltimore. The son of Curlin will be ridden today by Hall of Famer Mike Smith and will break from post 7. The combined record at this distance for all 10 starters is 1-for-22.
Because of the wide open nature of the race, there is little reason to take a short price of any of the candidates scheduled to enter the starting gate. Good handicapping, my friends!
The Pacific Classic will go as Race 10 today at Del Mar and has a scheduled post time of 6:30 PT.
Bortstein's Selections:
(7) TENFOLD (8-1)
(2) QUIP (9/2)
(5) SEEKING THE SOUL (3-1)
(6) HIGHER POWER (8-1)