Knightsbridge wins Saturday's Grade I Pacific Classic at Del Mar, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic. Photo by Benoit Photography, courtesy of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The 3-year-olds who have been knocking heads all year have a new rival in the ranks of older horses in Knightsbridge, the easy winner of Saturday's $1 million, Grade I Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Conveniently, the race serves as a "Win and You're In" invitation to October's Breeders' Cup Classic, where the generations meet, usually to contest Horse of the Year honors. And should Knightsbridge make it to that showdown, he probably will face the 2025 Horse of the Year, Sovereignty. Both are Godolphin homebreds, trained by Bill Mott and regularly ridden by Junior Alvarado. And, speaking of generations, a lot is riding on Saturday's $1.25 million Grade I Travers Stakes at Del Mar -- the "Midsummer Derby" -- with Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo as the 5-2 early favorite. A closer look at the Pacific Classic and a sketchy peek at other weekend action follows a recap of major international races, with many Breeders' Cup implications. My Gun's Loaded with Saturday's Grade I Alabama at Saratoga. Photo by Coglianese Photography, courtesy of NYRA Around the world, around the clock
England
Notable Speech seized the lead a furlong out in Saturday's Group 1 City of York Stakes, and none of the others in the top-shelf field could go with him. The 5-year-old Godolphin homebred won by 2 3/4 lengths over Lake Forest, teeing up a career finale in the Breeders' Cup Mile, which he won last year. The son of Dubawi won last year's Grade I Woodbine Mile as a prep for the Breeders' Cup, but trainer Charlie Appleby said he's likely to go straight to Keeneland without a race between. Friday's program at York franked the raw speed of Bacio, a 3-year-old Maclean's Music colt trained by Wesley Ward. With Juan Hernandez making a tightly scheduled trip to the north of England for the ride, Bacio blasted out of the gate and was not threatened, winning the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths. That backed up his Royal Ascot victory in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap. Bacio earned a "Win and You're In" pass to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on Oct. 31 at his home base at Keeneland. After that, Ward said, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington in Australia is on the wish list. Arapaho Gold found his best stride in the final yards to take Friday's Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes for 2-year-olds by 3/4 length, remaining undefeated after four starts. Earlier Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" recipients during the Ebor meeting at York: Kalpana to the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf, Item to the Longines Classic and Haffner to the Brown Advisory Juvenile Turf. Ireland
Saturday's Group 2 Futurity at the Curragh came down to the pair of Aidan O'Brien trainees in the final furlong. Giant Sequoia, a Kentucky-bred colt by Frankel, was running just off the shoulder of Florida Bay and making slow, but sure, progress, finally got to even terms and eked out a 1/2-length win. One race earlier, Dylan Browne McMonagal rode his fourth straight winner on the day as Green Empress got home a neck in front of Dancing Destiny in the Group 2 Debutante for 2-year-old fillies. Both are trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien. France
The Breeders' Cup was top of mind in France on Sunday after Aventure inflicted a first-ever defeat on Coolmore's star filly Diamond Necklace in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville. A Wertheimer homebred 5-year-old by Sea the Stars, Aventure absolutely ran back to the form that saw her finish second to Bluestocking in the 2024 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Aventure, with Maxime Guyon up for trainer Christophe Ferland, got the jump on 3-year-old Diamond Necklace and Ryan Moore with some 200 meters to go in the Romanet and ran on to win by 2 lengths. The effort renewed faith, as she had not been the most consistent thing on four legs since the second in the '24 Arc. Now, Ferland said, a return to Longchamp is in the cards, but most likely not the Arc. "It's not the same decision we would have taken when she was three and it is just that, with time and maturity, she has got stronger and faster," the trainer said, according to Racing Post. "She's in the Arc, but will run in the [Group 1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc day] over this trip before heading to the Breeders' Cup if all goes well. " The day's second feature, the Group 1 Prix Morny for 2-year-olds, saw Senorita Bonita unleash a monstrous rally through the final 150 meters, blow by breakaway pacesetter Carry the Flag and run on to win by 4 lengths. Meanwhile, back in the States:
Classic
There was some doubt about Knightsbridge's ability to get the 1 1/4 miles of the Pacific Classic -- and the Breeders' Cup Classic. There are none now. He not only started from the outside gate in the 11-horse field, but also dueled through most of the race with Full Serrano at a seriously hot pace. And when Full Serrano had enough, Knightsbridge was just getting going and won by 6 1/4 lengths. Original Sin came from the clouds to take second by 1 1/4 lengths over Full Serrano. Distaff
My Gun's Loaded won Saturday's Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga by a neck over Measure with the favorite, Counting Stars, third. Turf Sprint
Sorrento Sky rallied from last of eight to win Saturday's $200,000 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar by 1 length over No Nay Hudson, earning a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" bid.
