Kentucky Derby 2023: Versatile Mage can do some Derby magic
Read this articleShared Belief Takes on Elders in $1 Mil Pacific Classic
Shared Belief will put his five-race undefeated streak on the line in the $1,000,000 Pacific Classic on Sunday at Del Mar. The mile and a quarter contest has drawn a field of eleven and will be run for the final time on Del Mars synthetic main track before switching back to conventional dirt in 2015.
Shared Belief has been tabbed as the 5-2 morning line favorite and will break from the outside post in the field of eleven under Mike Smith. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the sophomore son of Candy Ride will be facing older horses for the first time in a stakes race after defeating three-year-olds in the Los Alamitos Derby (G2) in his most recent start. He is a perfect five for five and four of those wins have come over synthetic surfaces.
Game on Dude tries to reclaim Pacific Classic glory
Game on Dude will attempt to defend his title and win consecutive editions of the Pacific Classic at odds of 3-1. The veteran gelding will break from post position five with Martin Garcia picking up the mount after Mike Smith elected to go with Shared Belief. Trained by Bob Baffert, the seven-year-old son of Awesome Again has won sixteen times and will be making his fourth appearance in the Pacific Classic. He was last seen finishing fourth in the Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita.
Toast of New York a synthetic specialist
Also in the field at odds of 10-1 is Toast of New York, the other three-year-old taking on older rivals. Trained by Jamie Osborne, the bay son of Thewayyouare will have Victor Espinoza in the irons after a sixth-place finish in the Belmont Derby (G1) in his United States debut. His five prior starts came overseas and all three of his career victories have come on synthetic surfaces including a win in the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan Racecourse. He will break from post position eight.
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