Kudos Sizzles in Pacific Classic Workout; Congaree Likely to Skip

Edited from track notes
Kudos scorched the Del Mar dirt this morning in a 1:23.60 seven-furlong workout in preparation for the track's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic on Sunday, August 24. Kudos worked in tandem with The Tin Man, who got the same time as the two went head and head throughout the drill.

The workout by the 6-year-old gelded son of Kris S. and his workmate drew raves from Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. "They worked fantastic," an enthusiastic Mandella said. "They went strong all the way around and galloped out a strong mile."

Exercise rider Jenine Painter was aboard Kudos and The Tin Man was handled by his regular rider, Mike Smith.

Meanwhile, the prospect of Hollywood Gold Cup champion Congaree running in the Pacific Classic seems to be waning, according to trainer Bob Baffert, though he might have left the door just a tad ajar.

"He's training here," Baffert said, "but I'm leaning not to run him."

Asked if that meant the decision wasn't final, Baffert responded, "I probably won't run him. He's still training. I just don't know if I'm going to run him yet."

Congaree, owned by Stonerside Stable, has run six times this year already, with four wins and a second, and Baffert indicated he didn't want to do anything that might grind him down to where he couldn't run in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, which has been the goal for the 5-year-old throughout the year.

Committed to the race, along with Kudos, are Candy Ride, owned by Sid and Jenny Craig and trained by Ron McAnally; Haskell Invitational winner Peace Rules, a 3-year-old owned by Edmund Gann, and Santa Anita Handicap winner Milwaukee Brew, owned by Stronach Stables. Robert Frankel, who was won the race six times in the 12 runnings, trains the last named two.

Humberto Ascanio, Frankel's chief assistant at Del Mar, said this morning he's expecting Peace Rules and Milwaukee Brew to arrive from New York on Monday, August 18, six days prior to the Pacific Classic.

Possible for the race is another 3-year-old, Eye of the Tiger, owned by John D. Gunther and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.