Pacific Classic J

A solid field of eight will go postward to contest the prestigious $1 million Pacific

Classic S. (G1) at Del Mar on Sunday. California-bred LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew)

is perfect from five starts in 2006, including wins in the Santa Anita H. (G1),

Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1) and Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), and will be plenty

tough to beat with his best, but we'll look for an upset on this occasion.

PERFECT DRIFT (Dynaformer) often gets criticized for finishing just shy of

the main prize, but we should applaud the ageless seven-year-old for his courage

and will to compete. Conditioned by Murray Johnson, the bay has shown up for

this event in the previous two years and finished in the place spot both times,

leading us to believe he has a huge shot today because the field lacks the depth

that it has had in the past. The son of Dynaformer was a tough second in the

Stephen Foster H. (G1) two prior before being the runner-up in the Washington

Park H. (G2) most recently, and looks to peak in this one. Regular rider Mark

Guidry will pilot the gelding.

SUPER FROLIC (Pine Bluff) should be rounding into a peak form cycle in his

third start off the shelf, and we give the Vladimir Cerin charge a chance at a

square price. Super Frolic made a believer out of us when finishing an excellent

fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), and he seems to have gotten over a

horrific first quarter of the season when he was crushed in the Donn H. (G1) and

Dubai World Cup (G1) in succession. The chestnut has a good deal of tactical

speed and should get first run on the closers turning for home beneath Jon

Court.

Lava Man gained national attention last year with his dominant Hollywood Gold

Cup triumph and hasn't stopped since, stamping himself as the premier handicap

horse on the West Coast. The dark bay has very few flaws and would have to

run a touch below par to be upended in here, but we think there may be a chink

in the gelding's armor. Lava Man endured a grueling race most recently,

stumbling at the start before gaming out a nose win in the Gold Cup. Whether

that was a sign of the gelding proving to be vulnerable, or simply a display of

terrific athleticism and heart, we're not sure, but we'll bet against at small

odds. Corey Nakatani rides for Doug O'Neill.

MAGNUM (Arg) (El Compinche) has proven that his runner-up finish in the Big

Cap earlier in the year was no fluke and is another who is not without a shot in

here. Trained by Darrell Vienna, the five-year-old was second in the Oaklawn H.

(G2) three prior before taking the Lone Star Park H. (G3) two back, and was just

1 1/4 lengths shy of Lava Man in the Gold Cup last try. The 1 1/4 miles of this

race should be a perfect fit for him and, although he's unplaced from two local

starts, we expect a good showing for the South American-bred. Alex Solis has the

riding assignment.

PREACHINATTHEBAR (Silver Charm) is the type of grinder that should relish the

added distance in here and could hang around for a while if allowed to dictate a

sensible trip. The Bob Baffert charge has had success over this surface,

evidenced by his 4-1-1-1 mark, and isn't that far behind the top ones in here.

We love the fact that top jockey Victor Espinoza will ride, so we'll surely use

this horse in the gimmicks.

GIACOMO (Holy Bull) made a strong impression when closing to take the San

Diego H. (G2) most recently, his first tally since the 2005 Kentucky Derby (G1).

We won't question the training abilities of John Shirreffs, but we're not

excited about the fact that the four-year-old will make just his second start

since March. We also question the gray's ability to run past these late and will

use him on the lower rungs of the exotics only.

GOOD REWARD (Storm Cat) is another come-from-the-clouds closer who will need

to have the race fall apart to set up his strong late kick. A Grade 1 winner on

turf, the five-year-old has won just once from seven lifetime dirt starts and

has picked a tough spot to earn his second main track win. Claude "Shug" McGaughey trains while Garrett Gomez will ride the late runner, who could get a

paycheck with a top effort.

TOP THIS AND THAT (Old Topper) has a good late run but seems in a bit deep

here, and would be hard to recommend from this corner.