Go Between installed as 3-1 favorite for Pacific Classic
The Bill Mott-trained GO BETWEEN (Point Given), who has finished second in the Santa Anita H. (G1) and Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) this season, rates as the 3-1 morning-line choice as he bids to break through in Sunday's $1 million (G1). Del Mar's signature race, the 1 1/4-mile test has attracted a field of 11 older horses. Go Between's biggest career victory so far came in the 2006 Virginia Derby (G2) on the turf, but in the past year, the chestnut has developed into a major presence on synthetic surfaces. He has set a pair of nine-furlong track records on the synthetic, first at Keeneland when taking the Fayette S. (G3) last October, and then at Santa Anita when driving to a two-length triumph in the Sunshine Millions Classic in January. A close runner-up to the red-hot Heatseeker (Ire) in the Big 'Cap, Go Between was most recently a rallying second to the loose-on-the-lead MAST TRACK (Mizzen Mast) in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Regular rider Garrett Gomez will try to help Go Between turn the tables from post 6. Reigning Pacific Classic champion STUDENT COUNCIL (Kingmambo), who was third to Mast Track and Go Between in the Gold Cup, is back to defend his title. In May, the Steve Asmussen trainee earned another Grade 1 victory in the historic Pimlico Special (G1), and he is coming off a runner-up effort to the impressive Commentator (Distorted Humor) in the Whitney H. (G1) at Saratoga. Shaun Bridgmohan makes the westward trek to stick with the six-year-old warrior, who has drawn post 10.
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Mast Track put on a front-running master class in only his second career
stakes attempt at Hollywood. In the Pacific Classic, however, the Bobby Frankel
product will probably not enjoy the same kind of trip. Along with a possible
change in tactics, he gets a rider switch to Rafael Bejarano. Also expected to
flash early speed is multiple Grade 2 hero WELL ARMED (Tiznow), who returned
from a third in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) to capture the San Diego H. (G2)
here in track-record time over SURF CAT (Sir Cat) and MOSTACOLLI MORT (Hold for
Gold). Last-out Brooklyn H. (G2) winner DELOSVIENTOS (Siphon [Brz]) is another
likely pace factor.
Interestingly, Tyler Baze has taken off Mast Track to renew his partnership
with Grade 2 scorer AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again), the runner-up in the 2007
Pacific Classic who just missed by a nose in the grassy Wickerr H. most
recently.
Completing the field are San Pasqual H. (G2) victor ZAPPA (Afternoon Deelites),
most recently a 6 1/4-length romper in the Cougar II H.; multiple stakes winner
BARCOLA (Old Trieste), third to Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike) in the
Stephen Foster H. (G1) two back; and Grade 2 veteran MCCANN'S MOJAVE (Memo
[Chi]), who is exiting a fourth in the Hollywood Gold Cup.
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