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Pacific Classic Day Rancho Bernardo Stakes Kings Plate Results Hall of Fame Inductions King's Plate entries |
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 Knightsbridge heads back to the barn after winning the 2026 Pacific Classic |
The highlight race of the Del Mar summer meeting is the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1), featuring the best older horses of the west coast going 1 1/4 miles, and is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Classic at Keeneland on October 31. Conditions were typical for late August at the seaside oval, with the 15,187 fans in attendance enjoying sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70's. Knightsbridge was sent off as the 11-10 favorite in the field of 11 off his win in the Monmouth Cup (G3) after finishing second in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1). In to challenge him included 4-1 second choice Hit Show, second in the Suburban (G2) last out, and 13-2 third choice Finger, winner of the Haneda Hai and Tokyo Derby at Oi, the first two legs of Japan's Dirt Triple Crown.
 Knightsbridge draws away from Original Sin in the Pacific Classic |
Knightsbridge and 9-1 Full Serrano dueled for the lead through fractions of 22.68, 45.45, 1:09.53, and 1:35.17 while stalked by 23-1 Forged Steel and 17-2 Navajo Warrior. Into the stretch, Knightsbridge opened up on the field, and kept to task by Junior Alvarado, continued to draw off late to win by 6 1/4 lengths over late-running 22-1 Original Sin in 2:01.79. It was another 1 1/4 length back to Full Serrano third.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 11 Knightsbridge Alvarado 4.20 3.40 2.80 6 Original Sin Rosario 12.00 7.40 10 Full Serrano Hernandez 4.20 Winning Time: 2:01.79 $1 Exacta 11-6 18.70 $2 Quinella 6-11 26.40 $1 Trifecta 11-6-10 104.50 $1 Superfecta 11-6-10-1 1,355.80Results Chart |
Left: Knightsbridge in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Bill Mott said, "It was quite impressive. I thought maybe they were going a little too fast down the backside. They were going 45 and two or three, a pretty honest pace for a 1 1/4 mile race. They went quick but gosh he had something to finish with."
Right: Knightsbridge in the paddock before the race. Winning jockey Junior Alvarado said, "When we got to the first turn I thought we were moving along pretty well and at the backstretch my horse switched leads to the right and that's when I kind of wanted to give him a little breather and kind of engage a little bit again. My horse kind of went on with him and I was getting a little worried for how we wanted to go, but at the same time it wasn't like he was overly trying. He was kind of skipping over the ground. I had my hopes that when I asked him he would give me his best right when we turned for home. It was all heart there. In the gallop out I couldn't even pull him up he was going so strong. He's a horse that has a lot of talent."
Left: Second place finisher Original Sin in the post parade. Trainer Brendan Walsh said, "He ran great, he just left the gate so slow, and gave himself so much work to do. But the winner's a superstar."
Right: Third place finisher Full Serrano in the walking ring. Jockey Joel Rosario said, "He had a lot of heart. It looked like he was going to put them away, but he really did an unbelievable job." Trainer John Sadler added, "We're thrilled. Considering we missed the prep, a mile and a quarter, and fast pace, good race." He will go next in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile instead of the Classic.
 King of Gosford wins the Del Mar Mile (G2) |
Jockey Mike Smith sent 7-1 Cabo Spirit to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.09, 47.08, and 1:10.79 while pressed by El Potente and stalked by 31-1 Freedom's Not Free. Turning for home Cabo Spirit continued to lead through 7f in 1:22.65 5-1 fourth choice King of Gosford, 4th early under Umberto Rispoli, rallied late to get the lead and hold off late-running Detain to win by a head in 1:34.22. It was a neck back to favorite El Potente third, and just a neck back to pacesetter Cabo Spirit fourth, as just 1/2 a length separated first and fourth.
Left: King of Gosford in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Phil D'Amato said, "Last year in this race, he got clipped from behind and it cut his hind leg. It took a while to get back into (stakes) form. I thought it was a great trip. He saved every inch of ground. Umberto saw that the race was fast and sat off of it until just the right time. I think the horse on the inside and outside really invigorated him to fight there late and we had the strong finish and Umberto got the job done."
Right: King of Gosford returns after the race. Winning jockey Umberto Rispoli said, "I had a very good trip; that was the type of trip I wanted to have before the race. I was not afraid because when he was going in between the two horses, he kind of hesitated a little bit and once it was more clear, this horse he gave me another push. He has a big heart and he always tries. He can give you something more every single time. I was very happy with my trip and what a nice beautiful day. I'm very happy to have won three races today. I have been working hard to get back after having to take some time off from my injury."
Left: Second place finisher Detain in the paddock before the race. Trainer Mike McCarthy said, "We needed two more jumps. He finished strong. Maybe a mile was a bit sharp for him. I'm proud of the way he ran."
Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite El Potente in the paddock before the race. The Dan Blacker trainee improved his record to 7 wins, 3 seconds, and 3 thirds in 18 starts, earning $384,796 for owner My Way Racing.
 Tam Tam wins the Del Mar Oaks (G1) |
Jockey Joel Rosario sent Kensington Lane to the lead first time by through fractions of 24.14, 48.29, and 1:12.82 while pressed by Tam Tam and stalked by 51-1 Define. Turning for home Kensington Lane continued to lead through 1 mile in 1:36.61 but Tam Tam, confidently ridden by Junior Alvarado, came out for room and rallied to win by 1 1/4 lengths over late-running 40-1 Lookin at Diamond in 1:48.06. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to pacesetting favorite Kensington Lane third.
Left: Tam Tam in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Philip Bauer said, "I was happy (with the trip) but at the same time mildly concerned because I thought in the Regret it was a similar trip and she didn't punch home as well. When he was knuckling at her in the turn I was a little nervous but boy she answered the call. This is just pure relief. We felt like we had some fillies the last few years with Grade 1 talent and we just couldn't get it done. Glad we could get the tag next her name."
Right: Tam Tam returns after the race. Winning jockey Junior Alvarado said, "I was pretty confident. Normally, she is a filly that likes to pull a little more in the bridle, and she was completely off the bridle today. She was travelling beautifully, but I just didn't know what to expect when I asked her to go. Normally she is more aggressive, but I guess she was just in a good rate and enjoying the ride. When I turned for home and I asked her for her best she just really had a good turn of foot. She seems like every race she matures. If she starts doing it like she did today where she can actually relax and not pull too much, that is just going to make her tough going on."
Left: Second place finisher Lookin at Diamond in the paddock before the race. Trainer Leonard Powell said, "It's frustrating to run second in a big race. I lost some training time with her early in the meeting. She wasn't 100 percent today. She ran a heckuva race."
Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Kensington Lane in the walking ring. Jockey Joel Rosario said, "I thought I still had a little horse turning for home, but they were all definitely coming. They finished fast so I thought she put in a good effort."
 Sorrento Sky wins the Green Flash Handicap (G2) |
Jockey Hector Berrios sent 11-1 Virat to set the pace through fractions of 22.39 and 44.65 while pressed by 16-1 Mescalero and stalked by 13-2 fourth choice No Nay Hudson. Turning for home Virat opened a 2 length lead but 7-1 Sorrento Sky, 8th early under Umberto Rispoli, came out 3 wide for room and outfinished No Nay Hudson to win by a length in 56.12. It was another 1/2 length back to Virat third, and another length to late-running favorite Motorious fourth.
Left: Sorrento Sky in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Phil D'Amato said, "I thought we were in a little trouble in the first quarter just being so far back. There was a lot of speed in there and Umberto was able to cut the turn and pull out. He got a beautiful trip today and that was the difference. Umberto always believed in this horse. This was the way he always envisioned him running and it worked out."
Right: Sorrento Sky in the post parade. Winning jockey Umberto Rispoli said, "It was little bit of a sacrifice with the draw, because I knew he could break really well and I had to take him all the way back to try to save some ground. Fortunately, it paid off. I was following the right horses around. He is a different horse since he got gelded. Today he really came down with a nice turn of foot and he ran them all down."
Left: Second place finisher No Nay Hudson enters the paddock. The Wesley Ward trainee improved his record to 5 wins, 5 seconds, and 2 thirds in 22 starts, earning $572,464 for owners Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable, and Debra O'Connor.
Right: Third place finisher Virat in the walking ring before the race. The Dan Blacker trainee improved his record to 6 wins, 5 seconds, and 4 thirds in 23 starts, earning $339,120 for owner-breeder Sareen Family Trust.
Fourth place finisher and beaten favorite Motorious in the paddock. Jockey Antonio Fresu said, "When I put him out he didn't show me the turn of foot he usually does. He's getting older; we will see how he comes out of the race. I was a little bit surprised around the turn I was already off the bridle and it was a little bit too hard for him to do it today. When I put him outside like I usually do, he always comes with a burst at the end but not today."
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