Borrego (El Prado [Ire]), who earned his first stakes win when
annexing Sunday’s Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar by a half-length, was in good
condition at Santa Anita on Monday morning. Trainer Beau Greely said that the
reality of winning the event was just starting to sink in.
“It was a great run, and, obviously, it’s great to win a race of this
quality,” Greely said. “It’s one of the biggest races in the country. I’m really
proud of him.”
Greely said the four-year-old’s ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup Classic
(G1) at Belmont Park on October 29, but that the chestnut might make a possible
start in the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) on October 1 at Santa Anita.
“We’ll just watch him and see how he does and let him tell us which way to
go,” said the trainer.
Garrett Gomez became the first jockey to win the Pacific
Classic three times, winning his previous two in back-to-back fashion with Skimming in 2000
and 2001.
“The third time didn’t even cross my mind until later on.,” Gomez said. “When
I hit the wire, it felt like everything came back together and I was just
grateful for the opportunity to be back in that position. It was a big sigh of
relief, because Beau and I both believe in this horse, and it was special to win
because of the faith we had in him. It was neat the way he came through for us
and performed the way we knew he could perform.”
Lava Man (Slew City Slew), who was vanned off the track after the race due to
unsoundness in his right foreleg, was reported in good condition by Leandro
Mora, Doug O’Neill’s assistant trainer. Mora said that the Hollywood Gold Cup
H. (G1) winner ate well Sunday night and walked on Monday morning.
Musique Toujours (Musique D’Enfer), also vanned off after the race, suffered
a bowed tendon in his left foreleg.
“It’s probably career threatening, but he’ll be OK,” trainer John Sadler
said. “We’ll know more about that in a few days. He’ll be off a long time and
it’s too early to know whether he comes back to run again.”
Del Mar recorded an all-time record handle and also registered an all-time high for
one-day
purses. Handle totaled $24,048,615, eclipsing the previous record of
$22,857,782 set on August 15, 1998, also a Pacific Classic day. The one-day purse total for Sunday was
$1,868,000.