Saturday marks the biggest day of the summer at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club where it is Pacific Classic time in San Diego County. The 11-race card came up strong headlined by a fantastic edition of the $1M Pacific Classic (G1) featuring the trio of Fierceness, Journalism, and Nysos. Xpressbet and 1/ST BET are using the big day to give horseplayers one last crack this summer at the ever-popular Exacta-Thon promotion. For those new to the party, the goal is to connect on five $2+ exactas over the course of the entire card. Those able to do so will share $2500 with other horseplayers able to. The player(s) that connects on the most total exactas, takes down the other $2500. A great way to start Labor Day weekend with a promo on Sunday and Monday at Saratoga still to come!

Here are a few exactas I will include in my quest to take down my share of the 5K!

Race 5: Del Mar Mile (G2)

#4 Formidable Man and #7 King of Gosford headline the field in this one-mile excursion over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course and no doubt merit major respect. King of Gosford comes in fresh after a neck victory in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) in late May and retains the services of Flavien Prat, while Formidable Man makes his second start of the meet after a patient ride by Umberto Rispoli lead to yet another win over this turf course. The victory in the Eddie Read (G2) late last month gives him 7 wins in 14 career starts, including a 5 for 5-record at Del Mar. Expecting both colts to not show up might be wishful thinking, but I will try to sneak European import #5 Suchet into the number. The Hronis Racing runner almost won despite a total lack of speed from the gate in his Stateside debut on July 26 against first-level allowance foes. Now, the son of Cloth of Stars gelding attracts one of the better riders in the game at the moment in Paco Lopez. Lopez is likely to make a positive difference on a horse that showed a lot of talent on July 26 and clearly was pointed to this spot all along. Hopefully, the 15-1-ML shot can show a bit more early speed and come with another strong late run good enough to earn first or second.

Play: Exacta Key Box 5 with 4+7


Race 8:

The final non-graded stake event of the afternoon is this state-bred MSW event at 6-furlongs over the main track where #5 Miss Kona was instilled as the 5-2-ML favorite by oddsmaker John Lies after lacking speed, but running on strong to earn second in a similar spot just 20 days ago. The Union Rags filly makes as much as sense as anyone I suppose, but did not take much public support in her debut and was never a threat on the Win end.

I will build my wagers around longshot #1 Imnotvanillasky. The Mr. Big filly also makes her second lifetime start, but does so after failing to hit the board on debut. In fact, she finished seventh in a field of 9, but I argue it was in large part because she was down on an absolutely dead rail back on Opening Day. Trainer Mark Glatt adds the blinkers on this Sausalito Partners homebred who should be far more equipped for the inside draw this time around.

I will use Imnotvanillasky with a few fillies, including #2 Cashed who probably lacks upside at this point, but has hit the board in both career starts, including his Southern California debut in the same race Miss Kona exits on August 10. #6 Godbless Her is also worth including. The Frosted filly debuts for a barn that has not struck with any first-time starters this summer, but has proven more than capable over the years. Perhaps it is noteworthy that she lures Edwin Maldonado away from her stablemate that he rode on debut.

Plays:
Exacta Wheel 1 with 2+4+6
Exacta Wheel 3+4+6 with 1


Race 10: Pacific Classic (G1)

It is not often we get a three-horse showdown amongst older horses as intriguing as this year’s Pacific Classic. Not only does it feature the fastest older horse on the West Coast in 2025 and one of the fastest from the East Coast, but it also includes the second best 3YO in the country as well. Separating #4 Nysos, #1 Fierceness, and #6 Journalism was no easy task, but in the end the likely honest pace and trust at the 10-furlong distance has me once again in Journalism’s corner. The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners colt has only lost to 1 horse since his debut last October and he happens to be one of the best 3YOs in recent memory. If this was at a shorter distance, I would be concerned with Journalism’s ability to get past this group late, but the 1 1/4-miles should be the difference maker on Saturday evening.

I will play a cold exacta of Journalism over Fierceness, who I expect to get ridden aggressively out of his inside draw by Hall of Famer John Velazquez. The long run to the first turn should allow him to avoid an uncomfortable voyage down on the inside, but the Repole Stable homebred is unlikely to have things easy early. He should run his race in California, much like he did last year in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but I expect him to struggle to hold off a hard-charging Journalism. Hopefully, the $1M event lives up to expectations!

Play: Exacta 6-1