Arabian Knight May Not Defend Pacific Classic Title

The Pacific Classic (G1) is three weeks away and many of the horses gearing up for the big race showed up on the work tab this week. Meanwhile, one of the horses mentioned as a possible participant has been shipped back east and the defending champion is a huge question mark. 

Subsanador , one of two Argentine-breds thought to be headed to the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, will instead run in the Philp H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park Aug. 17, according to trainer Richard Mandella. 

Arabian Knight  is no longer a "definite" to defend his crown Aug. 31. Last year's Pacific Classic winner finished fourth in his 2024 debut in the San Diego (G2) last month. 

"He's doing fine," trainer Bob Baffert says, "but I don't know what I'm going to run in the Pacific Classic." 

Parenting , Newgate , and Reincarnate , all from the Baffert barn, have been mentioned as possible runners in the Pacific Classic.

Reincarnate was runner-up to Midnight Mammoth  in the Cougar II Stakes (G3) July 25. The son of Good Magic   put in a five-furlong work Aug. 10, stopping the clock at 1:01 2/5.

Newgate hasn't raced since returning from the Middle East where he ran ninth in the Dubai World Cup (G1). He returned to the work tab Aug. 9, posting a three-furlong bullet in :36 2/5, the best of eight works at the distance.

Parenting, a 3-year-old son of Justify  , is undefeated after three career starts. He won the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita Park in June before getting sick prior to shipping east where he was supposed to start in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth. He rebounded nicely winning a second-level allowance at Del Mar at the end of last month.

Other "Probables" Work Over the Weekend

Dr. Venkman  worked Saturday on the main track going four furlongs in :47 3/5, ninth best of 92 workers at that distance. It was his first work since his victory in the San Diego last month. Trainer Mark Glatt indicated he was pleased with the work and is pointing to the Pacific Classic.

Katonah , runner-up in the San Diego, breezed four furlongs in :47 2/5, sixth best of 92 runners at the distance Saturday. Trainer Doug O'Neill is very high on this gelding, especially after his strong showing off of a one-year layoff.

Midnight Mammoth is pointing to the Classic off of his victory in the Cougar II. Trainer Craig Dollase worked the son of Midnight Lute   on Saturday, going four furlongs in :48, 19th best of 92 runners.

The Pacific Classic would be Express Train 's third start off of a 1 1/2-year layoff. The son of Union Rags   put in his first work Aug. 9 since finishing third in the San Diego, going four furlongs in :51 1/5.

"He came out of the race fine," trainer John Shirreffs said. "I thought he ran a credible race and we're looking forward to the next one."

Trainer John Sadler is still uncommitted to running Full Serrano  in the Classic. The Argentine-bred gave an impressive performance when he won an entry-level allowance at Del Mar last month.

"He came out of the race well," Sadler says. "We'll start to breeze him back next week and look for something here, whether it's that (the Pacific Classic) or not, we haven't decided."