Om N Joy © Benoit Photo
“All systems are ‘go.’”
That’s the word from trainer Aggie Ordonez on her filly Om N Joy’s status for next week’s 36th running of the G1, $1 million, Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Eighteen horses have been nominated to the race. The draw will take place tomorrow around noon.
Meanwhile in the morning, Om N Joy will put in her final work for the big race on August 22.
“Of course, everything depends on that going smoothly and beautifully,” Ordonez says. “I think it will. I think she’ll come into the race as good as she’s been and Kent (Desormeaux) will ride her to perfection.”
Om N Joy earned a chance at Del Mar’s marquee race when she won the G2 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita in May and followed it with a surging second-place finish in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar on August 1. This would be her first time taking on the boys.
“She was a little rascal this morning,” Ordonez claims. “She had the down time about three days after the race and then she was back into pre-race mode. She’s a monster right now.”
Knightsbridge was due to arrive at Del Mar Saturday. The son of Nyquist worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 at Saratoga Friday for trainer Bill Mott before boarding a plane destined for California Saturday morning. The 2025 Kentucky Derby winning rider Junior Alvarado has been named to ride Knightsbridge in the Pacific Classic.
A couple of Pacific Classic nominees worked Saturday morning for trainer John Sadler. Full Serrano went six-furlongs in 1:11.00. The Goat worked five furlongs in 1:00.00. Full Serrano, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, is a go for the Classic but the connections are still on the fence with The Goat, a Chilean-bred who ran fourth last month in the G2 San Diego at Del Mar.
Also undecided 24 hours before the draw is Malarchuk and Bullard from the Michael McCarthy barn. Malarchuk, runner-up in the G2 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on Memorial Day, worked five furlongs in 1:00.00 Saturday morning.
“He worked well so we got to figure it out,” McCarthy says. “They’re also nominated for the Charles Town (Classic). I’ll go ahead and get with Mr. Reddam and Erik (Johnson of ERJ Racing) and everybody and talk to them about it.”
Stronghold is also nominated for the Pacific Classic. He worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 at Del Mar Saturday morning but trainer Phil D’Amato says he’s leaning toward running his Santa Anita Derby winner in the seven furlong G2 Pat O’Brien on August 29.
Also on the Saturday work tab was Nevada Beach who went four furlongs in :47.40. He’s another one whose trainer is hedging whether or not to run in the Classic.
“The mile and a quarter may be too much for him,” Bob Baffert says. “He’s doing really well but coming off of the layoff that may be asking a lot of him.”
Nevada Beach hasn’t run since finishing a distant 12th in the Saudi Cup in February. He’s been on the work tab since the middle of June.