Pacific Classic Emerges as Option for Fierceness; White Abarrio to Remain at Saratoga
- Turf Diario
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
The connections of the 2024 Travers Stakes (G1) winner are considering a trip to Del Mar, with a final decision expected on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the gray colt is aiming for the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
DEL MAR, California (Special for Turf Diario).- The countdown to the 34th Pacific Classic (G1), Del Mar’s marquee event scheduled for August 30, is entering its final stretch with multiple storylines capturing attention. In recent hours, Todd Pletcher’s team surprised observers by entering Fierceness (City of Light)—2023 U.S. Champion 2-Year-Old Male and winner of last year’s Travers Stakes (G1)—onto the nominations, adding extra intrigue to one of the most anticipated races on the American calendar.
The four-year-old representing Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable comes off a solid campaign highlighted by major victories including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita, the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, and the aforementioned Travers. This year, he captured the Alysheba Stakes (G2) on Oaks Day at Churchill Downs, finished second to Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) in the Met Mile (G1), and was fifth in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga in his most recent start.
Pletcher’s original plan was to keep Fierceness and Mindframe (Constitution)—winner of the Stephen Foster (G1)—apart until the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar in November. While Mindframe targets the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on August 31 at Saratoga, sending Fierceness to California would provide a prep run. Additionally, the Pacific Classic offers a direct berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic as part of the Win and You’re In program. A final decision is expected on Tuesday, when entries may be confirmed.
Meanwhile, White Abarrio (Race Day), winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic, has been officially ruled out of the Pacific Classic. The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee will also contest the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), aiming to prepare for a return to Del Mar in November.
Another key contender is Nysos (Nyquist), who continues his sharp preparation under Bob Baffert. The dark bay breezed 1,000 meters at Del Mar in 58.80 seconds (3/31) on Thursday, just five days after his previous work. “He felt great,” Baffert said. “We might give him one more light breeze next week. So far, everything is perfect.”
The card itself promises additional allure: according to Del Mar, it will be the richest non-Breeders’ Cup race day in the track’s history. Across 11 races, total purses will reach US$2,374,000, surpassing the previous record set in 2023. The undercard features five stakes carrying the same purses as last year: the Del Mar Handicap (G2) and Del Mar Mile (G2), each with US$300,000, along with the Green Flash (G3) and Torrey Pines (G3), each offering US$150,000.
This year’s Pacific Classic shapes up as an elite-level event, with Fierceness potentially adding star power, Nysos confirmed as a top contender, and strategic storylines unfolding around Mindframe and White Abarrio. Entries on Tuesday will finalize the lineup for Del Mar’s summer showpiece.
