Pacific Classic is a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Classic

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's richest and most prestigious race, the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Pacific Classic, a Win And You're In for the Breeders' Cup Classic, takes place on Saturday, August 22.

The 36th running of the Pacific Classic will be the centerpiece for a sparkling card offering five graded stakes and more than $2-million in purses, including a pair of Grade 2 features - the $300,000 Del Mar Handicap and the $300,000 Del Mar Mile - both contested on the track's renown Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

The Grade 1 Pacific Classic is Race #10 on the 11-race card Saturday. Probable post time is 6 p.m. PST.

2026 Pacific Classic Entries & Odds

Entry	Horse	ML Odds	Jockey	Trainer
** Odds to be posted after draw **

U.S. Legal Online Wagering

Baffert Trained NYSOS Points to Pacific Classic at Del Mar

July 19 - Great news out of Kentucky where trainer Bob Baffert has announced he will point his star pupil, Nysos, to this year's Pacific Classic. Baffert had been considering the G1 Whitney at Saratoga August 8, but decided to stick with his original plan.

"It was always my plan," Baffert says of running Nysos in Del Mar's marquee race.

The Pacific Classic will be run August 22 at its usual mile and a quarter. If Nysos had run in the nine-furlong Whitney Baffert said he would have had to run him again before the Breeders' Cup.

"I can run him in the Pacific Classic and then go straight to the Breeders' Cup," Baffert notes, "so the timing is good. And I want to support Del Mar."

Word is the son of Nyquist arrived at Del Mar this morning. He can make a case to be called the best handicap horse in the country. After winning the G2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar last year and then the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar in the fall, Nysos won the Laffit Pincay, Jr. at Santa Anita in late December. He then was valiant runner-up to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup in February before returning stateside and winning the G1 Met Mile at Saratoga on Belmont Stakes Day.

OffTrackBetting.com - US Legal Del Mar horse betting is a great way to bet the Pacific Classic from Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Available to customers across the United States, OTB features both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing from major racing venues in the US as well as top international racing from Europe, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong.

Beholder became the first and only female racehorse to win the race in 2015, when she rolled to a near-record 8 ¼ length win. Just four other fillies have started in the race.

Trainer Bob Baffert has won the race seven times, most recently with Arabian Knight last year.

Jockey Mike Smith has won four editions of the race, tied with the late Garrett Gomez for the most of any rider.

The betting favorite has won the Pacific Classic just eight times, but seven of those times came since 2004.