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Del Mar Scouting Report: Pacific Classic Week | August 29-September 2, 2024

by Jeremy Plonk

August 27, 2024

Key Races

Saturday | G1 Pacific Classic (dirt route), G2 Del Mar Mile (turf route), G2 Del Mar Handicap (turf marathon), G3 Green Flash (turf sprint), G3 Torrey Pines (3yo f dirt route)

Sunday | G2 Del Mar Derby (3yo turf route), Shared Belief (3yo dirt route)

Monday | Generous Portion (2yo Cal-bred f sprint), Tranquility Lake (f/m dirt route)

Horsepower

Thursday: G2 Twilight Derby winner Cabo Spirit, G2 Mathis Mile winner Watsonville, G2 Joe Hernandez winner Air Force Red, G3 Golden Gate Handicap winner War at Sea, G3 Zuma Beach winner Packs a Wahlop (R7 allowance)

Friday: G1 Del Mar Debutante third-place finisher Gate to Paradise, $1.8M second-timer Nafisa (R6 maiden)

Saturday: G1 Clement Hirsch winner Adare Manor, G2 San Diego winner Dr. Venkman (officially entered in G1 Pacific Classic); G2 Fort Marcy winner Master Piece, G3 Dinner Party winner Balnikhov (probable G2 Del Mar Handicap, draws Wednesday); G2 Joe Hernandez winner Forbidden Kingdom, William Walker winner No Nay Hudson (probable G2 Green Flash, draws Wednesday); G2 Santa Anita Oaks winner Nothing Like You (probable G3 Torrey Pines, draws Wednesday).

Sunday: La Jolla winner Stay Hot (probable G2 Del Mar Derby, draws Thursday), G2 San Felipe winner Imagination (probable Shared Belief, draws Thursday)

Monday: G3 La Canada winner Desert Dawn (probable Tranquility Lake Stakes, draws Friday)

Extra Incentives

Saturday | $10K-added Fun in the Sun Handicapping Tournament | last 5 races Saratoga, first 5 races Del Mar

Tracking the Trends

-- Favorites went 11-35 (31%) last week, just slightly the highest win rate for chalks over the past 4 weeks. Bob Baffert trainees were 4: 3-0-1 as favorites (everyone else 8-31).

-- Despite favorites struggling, the betting was good with on winner over 10-1 odds and only 4 in the 8-1 to 10-1 range from 35 races.

-- Jockey Juan Hernandez exits a colony-best 7 wins last week (39%, + ROI) in one of his best showings of the summer. Antonio Fresu (6 wins, 25%, + ROI) also stood out.

-- Trainer Peter Miller had his best week of the meet, leading all barns with 4 wins (33%, + ROI). Those with 3 wins included Mark Glatt (25%, + ROI), Steve Knapp (33%, + ROI) and Bob Baffert (43%, but losing ROI).

-- Top turf barns this meet have been Peter Miller (9 wins, 25% + ROI) and Leonard Powell (6 wins, 23%, + ROI). Turf riders are led by Umberto Rispoli (21 wins, 27%, + ROI) and Hector Berrios (13 wins, 27%, large + ROI). Armando Ayuso and Abel Cedillo have been highly profitable jockeys on grass as well.