Pacific Classic Closes Out Saturday's Stakes Schedule
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Seeking the Soul
Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse provide a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races, capsules and entries. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Click on links for full preview.
2:40 p.m.—$150,000 Monmouth Oaks (G3) at Monmouth Park (TVG)
Coming off a nine-length romp in the grade 3 Delaware Oaks July 6, Eclipse Award-winner Jaywalk tops the field for Saturday's 95th running of the Monmouth Oaks. The reigning juvenile filly champion notched grade 1 victories in the Frizette and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2018 but had been 0-for-3 to start her 3-year-old campaign prior to the Delaware Oaks.
5:26 p.m.—$200,000 Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course (FS2 and TVG)
Augustin Stable's homebred Varenka headlines a talented field of eight sophomore fillies in the Lake Placid, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test. Trained by Graham Motion, Varenka demonstrated significant promise in her juvenile campaign finishing second in the P.G. Johnson at second asking at Saratoga, followed up by a closing second to Newspaperofrecord in the grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park.
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 17, 2019, Race 9Entries: Lake Placid S. (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Varenka (KY)
Javier Castellano
118
H. Graham Motion
3/1
2
2Amandrea (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Michael J. Maker
15/1
3
3Vow to Recover (FL)
Manuel Franco
120
Elizabeth L. Dobles
10/1
4
4Blowout (GB)
Jose L. Ortiz
120
Chad C. Brown
5/2
5
5Regal Glory (KY)
Luis Saez
122
Chad C. Brown
2/1
6
6Feel Glorious (GB)
Joel Rosario
120
Christophe Clement
5/1
7
7Wildlife (KY)
Jose Lezcano
118
Victoria H. Oliver
10/1
8
8Team Win (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
119
Todd A. Pletcher
8/5
5:42 p.m.—$400,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine (TVG)
Tone Broke and Avie's Flatter headline a field of nine Canadian-bred 3-year-olds in Saturday's $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, third jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown at Woodbine.
Woodbine, Saturday, August 17, 2019, Race 10Entries: Breeders' S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Seguimi (ON)
Patrick Husbands
126
Stuart C. Simon
20/1
2
2Flashymeister (ON)
Alan Garcia
126
Kevin Attard
20/1
3
3Lucas n' Lori (ON)
Kazushi Kimura
126
Kevin Attard
8/1
4
4Rising Star (ON)
Jesse M. Campbell
126
Michael P. De Paulo
10/1
5
5Tone Broke (ON)
Rafael Manuel Hernandez
126
Steven M. Asmussen
5/2
6
6Pay for Peace (ON)
Steven Ronald Bahen
126
Rachel Halden
20/1
7
7Avie's Flatter (ON)
Eurico Rosa Da Silva
126
Josie Carroll
2/1
8
8He's a Macho Man (ON)
Luis Contreras
126
Josie Carroll
6/1
9
9Encierro (ON)
Emma-Jayne Wilson
126
Catherine Day Phillips
4/1
5:59 p.m.—$600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course (FS2 and TVG)
After Point of Honor won a thrilling stretch-drive duel against Ulele in the grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes in May, the two talented foes will neet again as part of an accomplished nine-horse field of 3-year-old fillies in the 139th running of the Alabama, contested at 1 1/4 miles. Dunbar Road is favored off her win in the Mother Goose Stakes (G2).
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 17, 2019, Race 10Entries: Alabama S. Presented by NYRA Bets (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Dunbar Road (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
121
Chad C. Brown
8/5
2
2Lady Apple (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
121
Steven M. Asmussen
6/1
3
3Afleet Destiny (KY)
Eric Cancel
121
Uriah St. Lewis
30/1
4
4Champagne Anyone (KY)
Chris Landeros
121
Ian R. Wilkes
10/1
5
5Street Band (KY)
Sophie Doyle
121
J. Larry Jones
10/1
6
6Ulele (KY)
Joel Rosario
121
Brad H. Cox
8/1
7
7Point of Honor (KY)
Javier Castellano
121
George Weaver
5/2
8
8Off Topic (KY)
Manuel Franco
121
Todd A. Pletcher
10/1
9
9Kelsey's Cross (FL)
Rajiv Maragh
121
Patrick L. Biancone
15/1
6 p.m.—$100,000 Green Flash Handicap (G3) at Del Mar (TVG)
Two-time defending Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner Stormy Liberal will end a five-month layoff to defend his championship in the $100,000 Green Flash Handicap. Trainer Peter Miller has set a similar race schedule to 2018 for Stormy Liberal, a 7-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding whose back-to-back Breeders' Cup triumphs have helped boost his earnings to more than $2.1 million. Stormy Liberal has been freshened since a third-place result in Dubai and trained up to the Green Flash at San Luis Rey Downs and Del Mar.
Del Mar, Saturday, August 17, 2019, Race 3Entries: Green Flash H. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Calexman (KY)
Geovanni Franco
118
Vladimir Cerin
12/1
2
2Stormy Liberal (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
125
Peter Miller
8/5
3
3Undrafted (KY)
Victor Espinoza
120
Wesley A. Ward
5/1
4
4Shades of Victory (CA)
Ruben Fuentes
114
Reed Saldana
20/1
5
5Eddie Haskell (CA)
Kent J. Desormeaux
123
Mark Glatt
9/5
6
6Mr Vargas (FL)
Joseph Talamo
117
Brian J. Koriner
3/1
8 p.m.—$250,000 Del Mar Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar (TVG)
Marckie's Water and United, the one-two finishers in the grade 2 Charlie Whittingham at Santa Anita Park May 25, are part of a field of nine for the Del Mar Handicap, which is a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).
Del Mar, Saturday, August 17, 2019, Race 7Entries: Del Mar H. Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Oscar Dominguez (IRE)
Joseph Talamo
118
Richard Baltas
12/1
2
2Ritzy A. P. (KY)
Martin Garcia
119
Dan Blacker
12/1
3
3Blended Citizen (KY)
Aaron T. Gryder
119
Doug F. O'Neill
20/1
4
4Marckie's Water (CA)
Tiago Josue Pereira
124
Richard Baltas
7/2
5
5United (KY)
Flavien Prat
120
Richard E. Mandella
3/1
6
6The Great Day (ARG)
John R. Velazquez
121
Arnaud Delacour
5/2
7
7Itsinthepost (FR)
Drayden Van Dyke
122
Jeff Mullins
7/2
8
8Arizona Moon (KY)
Evin A. Roman
115
Stacy Campo
30/1
9
9Acclimate (CA)
Florent Geroux
119
Philip D'Amato
12/1
8:30 p.m.—$100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) at Del Mar (TVG)
Classic Fit, runner-up last time out in the grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont June 29, takes her talents West as she seeks out her first graded stakes win in the one-mile Torrey Pines.
Del Mar, Saturday, August 17, 2019, Race 8Entries: Torrey Pines S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Into Chocolate (KY)
Mike E. Smith
118
Clifford W. Sise, Jr.
10/1
2
2High Regard (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
122
Victoria H. Oliver
12/1
3
3Classic Fit (KY)
Florent Geroux
120
Michael Stidham
3/1
4
4Hollywood Hills (CA)
Julien R. Leparoux
120
Steve M. Sherman
12/1
5
5Colonial Creed (KY)
Victor Espinoza
122
Richard Baltas
8/1
6
6Sneaking Out (CA)
Drayden Van Dyke
120
J. Keith Desormeaux
7/2
7
7Fighting Mad (KY)
Joseph Talamo
120
Bob Baffert
5/2
8
8Kim K (KY)
Flavien Prat
122
Peter Miller
5/1
9 p.m.—$300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) at Del Mar (TVG)
Mucho Unusual, a change-of-tactics last-to-first winner of the grade 2 San Clemente Stakes July 20, will be facing her stiffest competition in the biggest field of her career in Saturday's Del Mar Oaks. Mucho Unusual, a daughter of Mucho Macho Man , went counter to a previous forwardly placed running style in sweeping from 10th to first in the San Clemente.
Del Mar, Saturday, August 17, 2019, Race 9Entries: Del Mar Oaks Presented by The Jockey Club (G1T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Cambier Parc (KY)
John R. Velazquez
122
Chad C. Brown
5/2
2
2Maxim Rate (KY)
Brice Blanc
122
Simon Callaghan
20/1
3
3Strike At Dawn (KY)
Geovanni Franco
122
Richard Baltas
20/1
4
4Hard Legacy (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
122
Norm W. Casse
12/1
5
5Raymundos Secret (FL)
Florent Geroux
122
Richard Baltas
10/1
6
6Keeper Ofthe Stars (KY)
Abel Cedillo
122
Jonathan Wong
10/1
7
7Dogtag (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
122
Chad C. Brown
8/1
8
8Apache Princess (CA)
Kent J. Desormeaux
122
J. Keith Desormeaux
10/1
9
9Sold It (KY)
Mario Gutierrez
122
Doug F. O'Neill
30/1
10
10Mucho Unusual (CA)
Mike E. Smith
122
Tim Yakteen
5/1
11
11Lady Prancealot (IRE)
Joseph Talamo
122
Richard Baltas
8/1
12
12Out of Balance (KY)
Victor Espinoza
122
David E. Hofmans
20/1
13
13Wildlife (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
122
Victoria H. Oliver
30/1
14
14Hidden Message (KY)
Flavien Prat
122
Simon Callaghan
8/1
9:30 p.m.—$1,000,000 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar (TVG)
Charles Fipke's grade 1-winner Seeking the Soul heads a well-matched field of 10 and was installed the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the 29th edition of the Pacific Classic. The stretch-running bay horse will be saddling up at his 10th different racetrack for the 1 1/4-mile headliner, coming off a sparkling tally in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, a seventh lifetime victory that pushed his bankroll to $3,335,802.
Del Mar, Saturday, August 17, 2019, Race 10Entries: $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic S. (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1War Story (KY)
Tiago Josue Pereira
124
Jorge Navarro
8/1
2
2Quip (KY)
Florent Geroux
124
Rodolphe Brisset
9/2
3
3Pavel (KY)
Mario Gutierrez
124
Doug F. O'Neill
7/2
4
4For the Top (ARG)
Martin Garcia
124
Bob Baffert
12/1
5
5Seeking the Soul (KY)
John R. Velazquez
124
Dallas Stewart
3/1
6
6Higher Power (KY)
Flavien Prat
124
John W. Sadler
8/1
7
7Tenfold (KY)
Mike E. Smith
124
Steven M. Asmussen
8/1
8
8Campaign (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
124
John W. Sadler
6/1
9
9Mongolian Groom (KY)
Abel Cedillo
124
Enebish Ganbat
20/1
10
10Draft Pick (KY)
Joseph Talamo
124
Peter Eurton
20/1