Formidable Man tops Del Mar Mile; Motorious, Gold Phoenix in WAYIs

There’s no shortage of attractions on Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar. Along with the seaside track’s signature race, two other Breeders’ Cup Challenge events are on tap, the Del Mar H. (G2) and Green Flash H. (G3).

The Del Mar Mile (G2) isn’t a “Win and You’re In,” but it looms large as a course-and-distance prep for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). Also on the banner card is the Torrey Pines (G3) for sophomore fillies.

The $300,000 Del Mar Mile kicks off the stakes action as the fifth race (6:35 p.m. ET). Multiple Grade 1 star Formidable Man extended his local mark to a perfect 5-for-5 in the recent Eddie Read (G2).

King of Gosford, runner-up to Formidable Man in the 2024 Hollywood Derby (G1) here, exacted revenge in Santa Anita’s Shoemaker Mile (G1) when last seen May 26. King of Gosford’s stablemate, Almendares, gives trainer Phil D’Amato a one-two punch. The near-misser in this race a year ago, Almendares warmed up by capturing the Wickerr S. Full Serrano returns for the first time since upsetting the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) for John Sadler, who also sends out French import Suchet.

The $150,000 Torrey Pines (sixth race at 7:06 p.m. ET) marks the comeback of Bob Baffert’s Tenma. Unraced since her fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Tenma first burst into the scene in last summer’s Del Mar Debutante (G1). Stablemate Howin, runner-up in the Summertime Oaks (G2) two back, exits an allowance score over this track and one-mile trip. Streaking California-bred Om N Joy hopes to stay hot as she ventures into open company.

D'Amato’s Motorious seeks a three-peat in the $150,000 Green Flash (ninth race at 8:39 p.m. ET), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) that has lured an overflow field of 15. Denied by just a neck in last year’s Turf Sprint over this same five-furlong scene, Motorious has won both ensuing starts, including the June 14 Daytona (G3). 

Among Motorious’ leading rivals are Queen Maxima, winner of five straight sprints until a troubled sixth going a mile; five-furlong specialist Coppola; Wesley Ward’s No Nay Hudson, who nearly won the 2024 Green Flash before being swamped late in third; Boss Sully, successful in a stakes-quality allowance in his latest; Sumter, who puts the blinkers back on after placing fifth in that same allowance; and First Peace, last seen landing the 2024 Eddie D (G2).

The $300,000 Del Mar ‘Cap, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), serves as the nightcap (9:43 p.m. ET) on the 11-race program. Gold Phoenix made history last year by turning an unprecedented three-peat, and the D’Amato veteran will try to rewrite the record book again by winning the 1 3/8-mile prize for the fourth time. But the seven-year-old has gone winless in the interim, portending perhaps a changing of the guard. 

Threats to his throne include comebacker Truly Quality, hero of last year’s Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) in his only prior appearance at Del Mar; multiple Grade 2 winner Atitlan, who stretches back out from a solid fifth in the Shoemaker Mile; Stay Hot and Balnikhov, the respective third and fourth from the Eddie Read; Final Boss, who just defeated Gold Phoenix in a one-mile allowance; San Juan Capistrano (G3) scorer Nitti; and 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) also-ran Endlessly, who hopes to revive his career by stepping up in distance.