Headed by triple millionaire Medaglia d'Oro, two-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Milwaukee Brew and South American sensation Candy Ride, a nomination list of 14 has been announced for the $1-million Pacific Classic (gr. I).The 1 1/4-mile signature event for Del Mar will be run on Aug. 24. Joining the terrific trio on the nomination list are older horses Kudos, Fleetstreet Dancer, Bayou the Moon, Reba's Gold, Redattore, Taste of Paradise, Western Pride and the 3-year-olds Eye of the Tiger, Peace Rules, Outta Here and Grand Hombre.Committed to the race at this point are the Robert Frankel-trained duo of Medaglia d'Oro and Milwaukee Brew; the Ron McAnally-trained Candy Ride, a dual Group I winner in Argentina and undefeated in five lifetime starts, including two in the United States; Kudos, trained by Richard Mandella, and Fleetstreet Dancer, conditioned by Doug O'Neill.Older horses will carry 124 pounds, while 3-year-olds carry 117. Kudos, who was third in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) in his last race, and Candy Ride both worked a mile at Del Mar on Thursday, finishing their serious preparation for the race, with each expected to come back with a short workout next week. Frankel's pair is at Saratoga and the Hall of Fame trainer said this morning he hadn't decided when the horses might work and when they might ship to the seaside for the Pacific Classic.Fleetstreet Dancer, said O'Neill, would not work before the Classic, galloping up to the race instead. The 5-year-old gelded son of Smart Strike was beaten a head in an optional claiming race at Del Mar July 26.Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has said Eye of the Tiger is being pointed toward the Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga on Aug. 23, while Frankel is prepping Peace Rules, who also is stabled at Saratoga, for the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. III) at Philadelphia Park Sept. 1.
Of the others, Taste of Paradise, Reba's Gold, Bayou the Moon and Western Pride all ran in Del Mar's San Diego Handicap (gr. II), a prep for the Pacific Classic, on Aug. 3. Taste of Paradise, who worked a half-mile in 47.40 for trainer John Sadler on Thursday, was the winner at odds of 37-1, and the Dan Hendricks-trained Reba's Gold finished third. Bayou the Moon was fifth and Western Pride was seventh.Redattore finished last of six, but only a half-length out of second place, in Del Mar's Eddie Read Handicap (gr, IT) July 27. Outta Here was scratched from the West Virginia when he showed up lame for the race, but trainer William Currin said the 3-year-old was fine the next day. Grand Hombre is undefeated in three outings, the past two in allowance events at Monmouth Park.
