Pacific Classic Trophy © Benoit Photo

Four major stakes – including the biggest and best of them all at Del Mar – will be up for grabs Saturday at the seaside oval. The foremost of the bunch, of course, is the $1-million, Grade I Pacific Classic, the 36th time the mile and a quarter special goes up for grabs.

Eleven horses -- from all across the country and as far away as Japan – have eyes on the rich prize and prestige the “Classic” offers, not to mention the free ticket the winner gets to the October 31 Breeders’ Cup Classic, which this year will be contested at Keeneland in Kentucky.

One of the “out-of-towners” – Godolphin’s Knightsbridge – wears the mantle of favorite in the headliner, which goes as Race 10 on an 11-race card. The Bill Mott-trained son of Nyquist, who gets regular rider Junior Alvarado as his pilot, is listed at 5/2 on the morning line. He’ll break from the outside Post 11.

The three other stakes on the program are the Grade II, $200,000 Green Flash Stakes (Race 5); the Grade I, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (Race 9), and the Grade II, $300,000 Del Mar Mile (Race 11).

The Green Flash, which also is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” affair (Turf Sprint), is headed by Anthony Fanticola’s Motorious, who is aiming for a fourth consecutive victory in the five-panel on the lawn dash. He’s listed at 5/2 and gets regular rider Antonio Fresu.

The Del Mar Oaks is keyed by the Irish lassie Kensington Lane, who is owned by Agave Racing Stable and Medallion Racing as was the winner of the Grade I Belmont Oaks last out on July 4 at Saratoga. She gets rider Joel Rosario for the trip and a 3-1 start at the wickets.

Finally, the Del Mar Mile has a lukewarm favorite at 7/2 in My Way Racing’s El Potente, who gets regular rider Hector I. Berrios as they break from the outside Post 12 in the full field.

First post for the day’s big card is the usual 2 p.m.