Godolphin’s Knightsbridge withstood a fierce battle on the lead through the first mile of the mile and one-quarter Pacific Classic to come away a six and a quarter length winner of the 36th edition of the seaside track’s $1,000,000 Grade I headliner.

Among the field of 11 and making the journey across the Pacific is Finger, a 3-year-old son of Gun Runner who has already captured the first two legs of Japan’s Dirt Triple Crown. Raced exclusively in Japan throughout his career, Finger now looks to take on the local competition and continue his 3-year-old campaign in the United States.

Warner C. Lusardi, a valued member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Board of Directors, passed away peacefully surrounded by family.

A field of 11 runners – led by six out-of-towners, one of them from Japan, as well as a filly – were entered to run Sunday in next Saturday’s 36th edition of the $1-million Pacific Classic, the Grade I highlight of a four-stakes afternoon at the seaside oval.

Joe Harper, the leader of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for nearly five decades, has been named the 22nd winner of the prized Laffit Pincay, Jr. Award.

Del Mar’s piece de resistance – its race of races – comes up a week from Saturday. This will be the 36th edition of the mile and a quarter Classic and it has some history to go with it now.

Del Mar will present a $2.1-million stakes schedule during its 13th Bing Crosby Season running Friday, November 6 through to Sunday, November 29.

But then one very chilly Thursday morning in December 2013 Pletcher’s chief assistant said goodbye, got on a plane and flew west.

Eunomia shipped in to Del Mar from the east to take a run at the $400,000, Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Saturday and came home a half-length best on a glorious afternoon at the shore.

“I leave all the business part to him,” Smith notes, “I just do the riding. He’s a Hall of Famer and he knows what to do. Whatever Gary feels is right.”