The $1 million Pacific Classic, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic, returns to Del Mar on Saturday, August 30th. As one of the most prestigious races of the summer, the Pacific Classic consistently draws some of the very best older horses and 3-year-olds in the country. This 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 contest on the dirt often serves as a key preview of the Breeders’ Cup Classic and is a staple on the West Coast racing calendar.
The 2025 edition features an intriguing mix of established stars and rising contenders. We have the dominant favorite in Nysos, a strong rival with a lethal turn of foot in Journalism, and an exciting, lightly raced challenger with a championship pedigree in Fierceness. All three bring different strengths to the race—class, speed, and upside—making for a fascinating betting race on Del Mar's unique surface.
When it comes to raw talent and accomplishments, there’s no horse in the race that can match Nysos. The multiple Grade 1 winner has been a model of consistency throughout his career, with his only loss this year coming in a second-place finish in the Dubai World Cup. Since returning to the States, he’s rattled off impressive victories in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita and the Hollywood Gold Cup, solidifying his status as the division leader.
Trainer Bob Baffert, a Del Mar maestro, knows how to get a horse ready for this race, having won the Pacific Classic a record eight times. The son of Medaglia d'Oro has demonstrated incredible versatility in his running style, capable of setting the pace or coming from off it, which makes him incredibly dangerous in a small field. He also has proven capable of sustaining his kick over a mile and a quarter, a crucial trait for the demanding Del Mar main track.
In his final prep for the Pacific Classic, Nysos had a brilliant five-furlong workout, a move that indicates he is in peak form heading into this race. He’s coming into the Pacific Classic third off the layoff, which is typically when a top horse peaks. With Flavien Prat in the saddle, a jockey with an excellent record at Del Mar, all signs point to another big performance. He’s not flashy, but he doesn’t need to be. He’s simply better than these other horses on paper, and until someone beats him, he’s the one to fear.
After missing the entire spring season due to a minor setback, Journalism returned in July with a resounding victory in the Haskell Stakes, a gate-to-wire, open-length win that announced his return in a big way. Earlier this year, he had blown the field away in the Florida Derby (G1), earning a giant speed figure and establishing himself as a real contender before being sidelined.
Now back and fully fit, the son of Curlin is looking to build on that momentum. Trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the Pacific Classic with Life Is Good, knows how to get a horse ready for this race. The question isn’t fitness or form; it’s class. In the Haskell Stakes, Journalism defeated a talented but unproven field. That's not to knock the performance—winning a Grade 1 by open lengths is always impressive—but other contenders like Nysos have faced and beaten a different level of competition.
His pace advantage may be the equalizer. In a field light on front-end speed, Journalism could find himself on the lead again. If he gets into a rhythm and slows things down up front, he could try to steal the race, especially if the others hesitate to engage him early. Still, the Pacific Classic is not an easy race to wire, and he’ll need to dig deeper than he ever has before to hold off Nysos in the stretch.
While Fierceness enters with the most question marks of the top contenders, he’s quietly put together a strong case as an improving horse with immense upside. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, who was named champion of his division, returned this year with a second-place finish in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga before his connections sent him west to trainer Richard Mandella, a master of preparing horses for Del Mar.
There’s a clear pattern here: immense talent in flashes, followed by a lack of finishing power. That’s why Mandella has been focusing on stamina-building workouts since Fierceness arrived at his barn. It’s a smart move from a trainer known for his ability to fine-tune horses ahead of big races. If he can get this colt to finish with authority, he will be a significant threat.
Jockey John Velazquez, who knows this colt well, retains the mount. While he hasn't yet faced the same caliber of horse as Nysos, he’s been progressing the right way. And if the change in training regimen sharpens him enough, he may turn the tables on more established rivals. Fierceness might still be a race or two away from putting it all together, but if he does so on Saturday, he’s the one most likely to upset the favorites.
>>> Check how to watch the Pacific Classic online and the whole field odds table.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
