2002 Pacific Classic

War Emblem is the 2-1 morning line favorite for the Pacific Classic.

Date: 08/22/02

The Grade 1 Pacific Classic is the highlight of the Del Mar summer stakes calendar. The $1 million race at the classic American distance of 1 1/4 miles for the 3-year-olds and up will have its 12th running on Sunday August 25th.

This year's Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Haskell winner War Emblem is the morning line favorite at 2-1 in a large field of 14 runners, the largest ever for the race. This will be the first time taking on older horses for War Emblem and Came Home, the only 3-year-olds entered, which gives them a seven pound weight break. Trainer Bob Baffert said: "With this horse and his style, post position did not mean a whole lot. Anywhere in the middle was fine by me. The main thing with this horse is if he breaks right. If he breaks right, we're going to be fine."

The second favorite is Frank Stronach's Milwaukee Brew at 3-1. Trainer Bobby Frankel is hoping for a fast pace to develop similar to his win in the Santa Anita Handicap. Jockey Kent Desormeaux said: "My job will be to determine how far back I'll be according to how they're moving along in front of me. I hope the mount I have will afford me the luxury of placing him where he needs to be to catch them in the last quarter of a mile. My eyes will be on Speedy Pick and Sky Jack -- he's got a lot speed -- and War Emblem, and the best-case scenario would have those three guys run off up there, and we'll be coming to get them late."

Post time for the Pacific Classic is 3:40 pm PDT and it will be broadcast on ESPN from 5:00-6:00pm EDT. Free past performances are available from Equibase and Daily Racing Form. Free selections are available from Bet Glen 2 Win. Below is the field for the Pacific with program numbers, post positions, and odds. All horses carry 124 lbs. except War Emblem and Came Home who carry 117 because they are 3-year-olds.

Pacific Classic

Who will win the Pacific Classic?

The Pacific Classic

Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 1 1/4 miles

# PP Horse Trainer Jockey M/L
Odds

1 4 Bosque Redondo Gonzalez Flores 8-1

1A 9 Came Home Gonzalez Smith 8-1

2 1 Jimmy Z McAnally Calenzuela 30-1

3 2 Momentum Dollase Gomez 6-1

4 3 Sky Jack O'Neill Pincay 6-1

5 5 Bonus Pack Proctor Castanon 20-1

6 6 War Emblem Baffert Espinoza 2-1

7 7 Pleasantly Perfect Mandella Solis 15-1

8 10 Milwaukee Brew Frankel Desormeaux 3-1

9 11 Sienne McAnally Baze 30-1

10 13 Grey Memo Stute Delahoussaye 10-1

11 14 Tapatio McAnally Nakatani 30-1

12 8 Speedy Pick Jones Blanc 30-1

12B 12 Nate's Colony Carava Pedroza 30-1