Knightsbridge Made Morning-Line Favorite For GI Pacific Classic Stakes

Edited Press Release

A field of 11 runners–led by six out-of-towners, one of them from Japan, as well as a filly–were entered to run Sunday in next Saturday's 36th edition of the $1-million GI Pacific Classic, the top level highlight of a four-stakes afternoon at the seaside oval.

Del Mar's morning line maker, John Lies, has hung Godolphin's Knightsbridge (Nyquist) the 5/2 favorite in the mile and a quarter Classic, which is a “Win and You're In” race for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic that will be run at Keeneland Oct. 31.

Knightsbridge, a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard,' is a Godolphin homebred who is trained by Bill Mott. The 5-year-old shipped in from Saratoga on Saturday night. Knightsbridge was last seen taking the GIII Monmouth Cup July 18.

Second-favorite in the race is C2 Racing Stable or Mathis Stables's Forged Steel, another eastern shipper but one with some west coast history under his belt. The 4-year-old Vekoma colt came to Santa Anita in May and took down the GII Gold Cup by nearly 10 lengths at the same mile and a quarter distance he'll be tasked with Saturday. He's listed at 5-1.

Next on the Classic line is yet another invader–Wathnan Racing's Hit Show, a 6-year-old Candy Ride (Arg) horse who has won more than $9 million in purses and a dozen races during a stellar career. He's in from New York also for trainer Brad Cox and has been made third choice in the lineup at 6-1.

Here's the full Pacific Classic lineup in post position order with riders and morning line odds:

1) Om N Joy (Om)–20-1
2) Forged Steel (Vekoma)–5-1
3) Finger (Jpn) (Gun Runner)–8-1
4) Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify)–12-1
5) Malarchuk (Nyquist)–10-1
6) Original Sin (Curlin)–15-1
7) Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg})–6-1
8) British Isles (Justify)–12-1
9) Navajo Warrior (Candy Ride {Arg})–8-1
10) Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast)–8-1
11) Knightsbridge (Nyquist)–5-2

The Pacific Classic will be the 10th of 11 races on the Saturday card. First post time is the usual 2 p.m. PT.