If you’ve ever stood on the apron at Del Mar when the marine layer starts rolling in, you know there’s a specific kind of electricity that hits right before the Pacific Classic. It’s not just the million-dollar purse. It’s the fact that this race has a weird, almost mystical habit of humbling the "unbeatable" horses.
People talk about the Pacific Classic like it’s just another Grade I stop on the road to the Breeders’ Cup. Honestly? They’re wrong. It’s a graveyard for giants and a birthplace for legends that nobody saw coming.
📖 Related: Georgia vs Georgia Tech: What Most People Get Wrong About This Rivalry
The 1996 Shocker: When Cigar Met His Match
Ask any old-timer at the track about 1996. They’ll probably get a little misty-eyed or start shaking their head. Cigar was the titan of the era. He had won 16 races in a row, tying the legendary Citation’s record. He showed up at Del Mar as the 1-10 favorite. Basically, the betting windows were just handing out free money, or so everyone thought.
Then came Dare and Go.
Trained by Richard Mandella and ridden by Alex Solis, this 39-1 longshot didn't just win; he broke the heart of every person holding a "Cigar" win ticket. Mandella actually joked later that he received anonymous hate mail for winning. People were that invested in the streak. It’s the quintessential Pacific Classic moment—the "Where the Turf Meets the Surf" magic where the script gets flipped.
Speed Records and the Ghost of Candy Ride
Most fans focus on the winning margin, but let’s talk about the clock. In 2003, an Argentine-bred horse named Candy Ride put on a clinic. He stopped the timer at 1:59.11. That’s a 1 1/4 mile track record that still stands today.
Think about that for a second.
We’ve seen monsters like California Chrome and Shared Belief tear up this track since then, but nobody has touched that mark. Julie Krone was in the irons that day, becoming the first female jockey to win a million-dollar race. It was a masterclass in pace and raw power.
Why 2022 Changed Everything (The Flightline Factor)
You can’t discuss this race without mentioning Flightline. I’ve watched a lot of horse racing, but what happened in the 2022 Pacific Classic was borderline scary. He won by 19 1/4 lengths.
That’s not a horse race; that’s a galaxy-level talent leaving everyone else in a different zip code.
🔗 Read more: NFL Honors: Why AP Coach of the Year Is Often a Mess
Trainer John Sadler basically said afterward that not even Secretariat would’ve caught him that day. While that’s a bold claim, the Beyer Speed Figure backed it up. Flightline earned a 126, one of the highest numbers ever recorded in the modern era of the sport. He made Country Grammer—a horse that had just won the Dubai World Cup—look like he was running in quicksand.
The 2025 Season: Fierceness Reclaims the Throne
Fast forward to the most recent running on August 30, 2025. All the talk was about whether Fierceness could handle the shipping and the West Coast heat. Todd Pletcher took a gamble bringing the son of City of Light out from New York.
It paid off big time.
Ridden by John Velazquez, Fierceness put in a professional, gritty performance to win in 2:01.00. He beat Journalism and Ultimate Gamble, proving he wasn't just a "Saratoga horse." It’s funny because earlier in the year, he’d run 15th in the Kentucky Derby. That’s the thing about these top-tier athletes—they have bad days, but the greats find their way back to the winner's circle when the lights are brightest.
👉 See also: NFL League Start Date: Why March 11 Matters More Than September 10
A Few Things You Kinda Need to Know
If you're planning to bet or just want to sound smart at the sports bar, keep these quirks in mind:
- The Surface Shift: From 2007 to 2014, Del Mar used a synthetic Polytrack. It changed the vibe of the race completely. Longshots like Student Council (2007) thrived on it. Since 2015, they’ve been back on the dirt, which favors the traditional powerhouses.
- The Sophomore Slump? Not really. While it’s mostly for older horses, three-year-olds can and do win. Best Pal did it in the inaugural 1991 running. Shared Belief did it in 2014. Arabian Knight took it in 2023. If a youngster is fast enough, the age gap doesn't matter.
- The Ladies' Club: Beholder is the only female to ever win the Pacific Classic (2015). She didn’t just win; she embarrassed the boys by over 8 lengths.
Actionable Insights for the Next Season
If you're looking to engage with the Pacific Classic moving forward, don't just look at the last race's finishing position.
- Watch the San Diego Handicap: This is the primary prep race at Del Mar. Horses that run well here usually have the "track transition" figured out.
- Beyer Figures over 110: Historically, you almost always need a triple-digit speed figure to win this. If a horse is consistently sitting at 95, they’re going to struggle when the real running starts at the top of the stretch.
- Check the Shipping Notes: Some East Coast horses hate the humidity or the specific "sandy" texture of the Del Mar main track. Look for horses that have had at least one work-out on-site before the big day.
The Pacific Classic remains the crown jewel of the Del Mar summer meet. Whether it's a 19-length blowout or a head-bobbing finish like Acclamation’s win in 2011, it rarely fails to deliver a story worth telling.
When the 2026 edition rolls around, remember the ghosts of Cigar and Candy Ride. At Del Mar, the "sure thing" is usually anything but.