Pacific Classic Day is here and the showdown between Nysos, Fierceness and the 3-year-old Journalism will be Race 10. Don't forget the $5,000 Exacta-Thon Promotion today on Del Mar's races as well as the final qualifying round in the Fun in the Sun handicapping tournament for Del Mar and Saratoga.

Del Mar - Race 5

#3 Almendares: He has just found the graded level the tiniest touch too tough most of the time, but I'm willing to give him a look here with what appears to at least be a fair race shape waiting for him. Loved his last -- think he gets over the top here.

#4 Formidable Man: Not much to argue with here -- he has been unstoppable over the local footing and just easily handled one of today's competitors last out. The one to beat.

#7 King of Gosford: His baseline stuff fits well here, but unlike Formidable Man, his very best game might be at Santa Anita. Still, he's one of the ones again today.

Race Summary: Almendares has toyed with being this kind of horse over the last year or two, and I thought his last was really sharp. Hoping he can hold that form to land a race he nearly scored in last year.


Del Mar - Race 9

#8 Sumter: He was last of five behind several of these last time out, but that was his first race off the layoff and could have him set for something better today. He has been right there with some solid sprint stakes groups, so I'm hoping that holds true today at a nice number.

#10 Motorious: He's making his second start of the year after a successful return, and he has typically been a handful over the local course. Classy guy can get past these late.

#9 First Peace: He'll have to fire fresh against a good group, but he looked sharp winning the Eddie D. at Santa Anita last fall, and there are a couple races on his page that would probably keep him in the frame on the line.

Race Summary: Sumter has some price appeal here after a mild comeback run, but I like that he's spotted aggressively in this stakes spot off that effort -- hoping we'll see a more representative try today.


Del Mar - Race 11

#7 Truly Quality: He has not been seen since the super flat run at Santa Anita in February, but that offers hope that we can draw a line through that one and expect something a bit closer to what he had been showing before that. Seems capable here, and he handled the course well in that Grade II score last November.

#11 Gold Phoenix: He wasn't a serious threat at 9/5 in allowance company last out, but he is better at these longer trips and has some reasonable upside while getting more ground today. Defending champ can repeat.

#5 Atitlan: There are a few flat tries on his page, but his better stuff seems like a good fit here, and I liked his last a little bit when rallying from far back in that Grade I. Wouldn't be a shock.

Race Summary: Truly Quality has plenty of room to bounce back today after a dull run in February, and I like that he's already handled a distance trip locally.