The Pacific Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in August or September at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. This Grade I one and one-quarter miles race on dirt is open to horses aged three years and older. The event currently carries a purse of $1,000,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 10 August 1991 with a purse of US$1 million and immediately became the premier event of the racing season at Del Mar. The first running was won by the 1990 California Horse of the Year three year old Best Pal in a time of 1:59. Best Pal would run two more times, finishing third to Bertrando in 1993 and second to Tinners Way in 1994.

The event was classified as Grade I for the third running in 1993 and has held that class since.

Del Mar switched its main racing surface from dirt to synthetic Polytrack in 2007 and the Pacific Classic winner that year was long-shot Student Council, who was handled by veteran Richard Migliore.

Starting in 2008, the TVG Pacific Classic became a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, where the winner of the race would automatically earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic. has become one of the top prizes for older horses racing in the United States each year.

In 2015 Beholder became the first filly or mare to win the event. She won by lengths with a final time of 1:59.77, against an otherwise all-male field of nine other horses, including 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern. She won in the third-fastest winning time in the history of the race, and with the second-largest margin of victory at that time, behind the 2013 win of Game On Dude. In 2018 Accelerate would win by an even greater margin of lengths.

In 2016 California Chrome became the first Kentucky Derby winner to win the event.

Records

Time record: 1:59.11 - Candy Ride (2003)

Largest Margin lengths - Flightline (2022)

Most wins: 2 - Tinners Way (1994, 1995) 2 - Skimming (2000, 2001) 2 - Richard's Kid (2009, 2010)

Most wins by an owner: 4 - Juddmonte Farms (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001) 4 - Hronis Racing (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Garrett K. Gomez (2000, 2001, 2005, 2008) 4 - Mike E. Smith (2002, 2009, 2010, 2014)

Most wins by a trainer: 7 - Bob Baffert (1999, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026 Knightsbridge 5 Junior Alvarado Bill Mott Godolphin LLC miles 2:02.28$1,001,000I2025 Fierceness 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor miles 2:01.00$1,001,000I2024 Mixto4Kyle FreyDoug F. O'NeillCalumet Farm miles2:02.10$1,001,500 I2023Arabian Knight3Flavien PratBob BaffertZedan Racing miles2:03.19$1,002,500 I2022Flightline4Flavien PratJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, & Siena Farm miles1:59.28$1,000,500I2021Tripoli 4 Tiago PereiraJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing miles2:02.37$1,002,000I2020Maximum Security4 Abel Cedillo Bob BaffertGary L & Mary E West, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith miles2:01.24$500,500I2019Higher Power4Flavien PratJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing miles2:02.43$1,001,755I2018Accelerate5Joel RosarioJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing miles2:01.83$1,000,690I2017Collected4Martin GarciaBob BaffertSpeedway Stable miles2:00.70$1,000,690I2016 California Chrome5Victor EspinozaArt ShermanCalifornia Chrome miles2:00.13$1,001,380I2015ƒ Beholder5Gary L. StevensRichard E. MandellaSpendthrift Farm miles1:59.77$1,001,250I2014Shared Belief3Mike E. SmithJungle Racing, KMN Racing, Hollendorfer, Litt, Solis II & Todaro miles2:00.28$1,001,250I2013 Game On Dude6Martin GarciaBob BaffertLanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, Diamond Pride & B. Schiappa miles$1,001,750I2012Dullahan3Joel RosarioDale L. Romans Donegal Racing miles1:59.54$1,000,000I2011Acclamation5Pat ValenzuelaDonald WarrenPeter & Mary Hilvers and E. W. & Judy Johnston miles2:00.61$1,000,000I2010Richard's Kid5Mike E. SmithBob BaffertZabeel Racing International miles2:03.27$1,000,000I2009Richard's Kid4Mike E. SmithBob BaffertArnold Zetcher miles2:02.39$1,000,000I2008Go Between5Garrett K. GomezWilliam I. Mott Peter Vegso miles2:01:18$1,000,000I2007Student Council5Richard MiglioreVladimir CerinMillennium Farms miles2:07.29$1,120,000I2006Lava Man5Corey NakataniDoug F. O'NeillSTD Stable & Jason Wood miles2:01.62$1,000,000I2005Borrego4Garrett K. GomezC. Beau GreelyJ. Kelly, B. Scott, Ralls & Foster miles2:00.71$1,000,000I2004Pleasantly Perfect6Jerry D. BaileyRichard E. MandellaDiamond A Racing Corp miles2:01.17$1,000,000I2003Candy Ride (ARG)4Julie KroneRon McAnallySidney & Jenny Craig miles1:59.11$980,000I2002§ Came Home3Mike E. SmithJ. Paco GonzalezWilliam S. Farish III, John B. Goodman, Trudy McCaffery & John A. Toffan miles2:01.45$1,000,000I2001Skimming5Garrett K. GomezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles1:59.96$1,000,000I2000Skimming4Garrett K. GomezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles2:01.22$1,000,000I1999General Challenge3David R. FloresBob BaffertGolden Eagle Farm miles2:00.40$1,180,000I1998Free House4Chris McCarronJ. Paco Gonzalez John A. Toffan & Trudy McCaffery miles2:00.20$1,000,000I1997Gentlemen (ARG)5Gary L. Stevens Randall Dee Hubbard miles2:00.40$1,375,000I1996Dare and Go4Alex O. SolisRichard E. MandellaLa Presle Farm miles1:59.80$1,500,000I1995Tinners Way5Eddie DelahoussayeRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles1:59.60$1,000,000I1994Tinners Way4Robert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles1:59.40$1,000,000I1993§ Bertrando4Gary L. StevensRobert J. Frankel505 Farms & Ed Nahem miles1:59.55$1,000,000I19925Kent J. DesormeauxRobert J. FrankelPeter Wall miles2:00.80$1,225,000 1991Best Pal3Pat ValenzuelaGary F. JonesGolden Eagle Farm miles1:59.80$1,000,000

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as part of an entry

ƒ Filly or mare

† Game On Dude's 2013 actual winning time according to "Trakus time" is 1:59.26.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

External links 2020 Del Mar Media Guide Pacific Classic details at Del Mar website Ten Things You Should Know About the Pacific Classic at Hello Race Fans