Knightsbridge © Benoit Photo

Knightsbridge’s performance in the G1 Pacific Classic last month was too good to ignore by our panel of media members who voted the son of Nyquist Horse of the Meet at Del Mar in 2026.

Knightsbridge faced down all his critics, outdueling Full Serrano and running off to a 6 ¼ length victory in the $1 million race. He was ridden by Junior Alvarado, trained by Bill Mott, and owned by Godolphin the same connections for 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty.

Knightsbridge was not a unanimous pick. Del Mar Futurity winner Hughes, Del Mar Mile and Wickerr Stakes winner King of Gosford and G2 Eddie Read winner Gold Phoenix also received votes for Horse of the Meet.

Knightsbridge was also named Top Older Horse at the meet

The Top Grass Horse was a close choice, going to Gold Phoenix over Test Score, who deprived Gold Phoenix of his fifth consecutive win in the G2 Del Mar Handicap. Gold Phoenix, an Irish-bred owned by Agave Stables, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify is trained by Philip D’Amato and was ridden by Hector I. Berrios. The popular gelding also won the award in 2023 and 2024. 

The Top Older Filly/ Mare was Eunomia, who shipped in for trainer Saffie Joseph to capture the G1 Clement L. Hirsch. Owned by St. Elias Stables and WSS Racing, Eunomia was piloted by Micah Husbands. 

The Top Sprinter was a close call, eventually going to Listenupshance, winner of this year’s G1 Bing Crosby. He edged out Iron Man Cal in the voting. The son of Shancealot is owned by Great Friends Stables or Run Fast Racing. He was trained by Del Mar’s leading trainer, Doug O’Neill. Jockey Emisael Jaramillo was in the irons. 

The Top 3-year-old Filly was a unanimous choice. Tam Tam, winner of the G1 Del Mar Oaks was another horse that shipped into the seaside oval and left with some brass. Trained by Philip Bauer and ridden by Junior Alvarado, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro is owned by Rigney Racing. 

The Top 3-year-old of the meet was Proletariat, a two-time winner at the session. The gelded son of Raging Bull won the opening day feature, the $150,000 Oceanside Stakes, then came back and captured the G2 Del Mar Derby. Owned by Dutch Boy Holdings and Irving Ventures, Proletariat is trained by Jeff Mullins and ridden by Kyle Frey.

The two juvenile awards were also unanimous picks. Top 2-Year-Old went to G1 Del Mar Futurity winner Hughes and the Top 2-Year-Old Filly went to G1 Del Mar Debutante winner Miss Monica. Both are out of the Bob Baffert barn and both were ridden by Juan Hernandez.