Looks like a two-horse showdown between Journalism and Fierceness in the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar later Saturday after the late-morning scratch of early favorite Nysos.
Nysos was scratched with a hind-foot issue, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The 4-year-old is 5-for-6, with victories this year in the Triple Bend Stakes (G3) and the San Diego Handicap (G2).
In the revised odds, Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism is the even-money favorite in the 3-year-old's first race against older horses.
The second choice is Fierceness at 8-5, who shipped west for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The 4-year-old finished fifth in the Whitney Stakes (G1) last out but has displayed his talent in the past with victories in the 2024 Travers Stakes (G1) and runner-up finishes in the ‘24 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
The 1 ¼-mile Pacific Classic field is now seven, with the rest of the field considered longshots – Midnight Mammoth, Ultimate Gamble, Indispensable, Lure Him In, and Tarantino.
No word yet on the future of Nysos, but Baffert told drf.com the issue “looks minor.”
With Nysos out, the recent Baffert-Michael McCarthy rivalry will have to wait for another day. McCarthy-trained Journalism has been the best of the West and most of the rest of the country this year – a year that Baffert returned to the Kentucky Derby (G1) after a three-year suspension imposed by Churchill Downs, Inc.
Journalism finished second Sovereignty in the Derby and the Belmont Stakes (G1). In between Journalism won the Preakness and after the Triple Crown returned and won the Haskell.
Midnight Mammoth is 8-1 on the revised line. He won a Grade 3 Del Mar marathon by more than 10 lengths last year and finished second in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) last out.
Indispensable is at 12-1 and comes in off narrow win in a Del Mar allowance last out. Ultimate Gamble and Tarantino are 15-1; Lure Him In is still 20-1.
The Pacific Classic is race 10 with a post time of 9 p.m. ET. It’s a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” event for the $7 million Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
While Journalism is 6-of-9 and has run exceptionally well in every race, Fierceness has been a question mark. He misfired in the Whitney, but his resume consists of a win in the 2023 BC Juvenile (G1) to clinch the 2-year-old championship, and a Jim Dandy-Travers double in 2024.
“Some minor things during the course of the race weren’t perfect,” Pletcher said of the Whitney at Saratoga. “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).
Indispensable could pull a surprise. The 4-year-old is coming off an entry-level allowance race last month at Del Mar.
“He’s run three times here,” said Sadler. “Two wins and a second and he seems to run his best races here. He got a good rating the other day when he won so we’ll step him up in class and see how he does.”
1 Fierceness (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher), 1-1
2 Midnight Mammoth (Armando Ayuso, Craig Dollase), 8-1
3 Ultimate Gamble (Kizushi Kimura, Mark Glatt), 15-1 4 Nysos (Flavien Prat, Bob Baffert), 8-5 SCRATCHED
5 Indispensable (Paco Lopez, John Sadler), 12-1
6 Journalism (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy), 8-5
7 Lure Him In (Edwin Gonzalez, Sam Wilensky), 20-1
8 Tarantino (Edwin Maldonado, Peter Eurton), 15-1
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.
