Pacific Classic Stakes Picks – Japanese Raider Set to Cause an Upset at Del Mar (Aug 22)

• When: Saturday, August 22, 2026 @ 9:30 PM ET
• Where: Del Mar, California
• How to Watch: FOX, FanDuel TV

Del Mar hosts Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup this Saturday, as a field of eleven go to post for the G1 Pacific Classic Stakes. It will be a competitive betting heat at the best horse racing betting sites, with Knightsbridge expected to be a warm favorite. But, which horse will earn their spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic for later in the season? Find our Pacific Classic picks here.  

Pacific Classic Odds

Horse (Draw)	Odds
Om N Joy (1)	+3300
Forged Steel (2)	+1000
Finger (3)	+650
Subsanador (4)	+1600
Malarchuk (5)	+1600
Original Sin (6)	+1600
Hit Show (7)	+500
British Isles (8)	+2000
Navajo Warrior (9)	+1100
Full Serrano (10)	+1200
Knightsbridge (11)	+137

Latest odds taken from an Offshore Sportsbook. BetOnline markets open on the day of the race.

Race Information & Records

Stat	Information
Race Distance	1 1/4 Miles
Purse	$1,000,000
Most Successful Trainer	Bob Baffert (7)
Most Successful Jockey	Mike Smith, Garrett Gomez (4)

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Pacific Classic Stakes: Recent Winners

• 2025– Fierceness (John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher)
• 2024– Mixto (Kyle Frey/Doug O’Neill)
• 2023– Arabian Knights (Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert)
• 2022– Flightline (Flavien Prat/John Sadler)
• 2021– Tripoli (Tiago Pereira/John Sadler)

Pacific Classic Stakes: Betting Preview

The G1 Pacific Classic has been a notable stopping point on the road to the Breeders’ Cup throughout history, with few performances being as memorable as Flightline’s 19 ½ length demolition in 2022. This year’s field may not be stacked with proven Grade One horses, but it does still appear to be a fascinating betting heat.

William Mott-trained Knightsbridge will be a competitively priced favorite after dominating the G3 Monmouth Cup on his last start. He is still unexposed over this staying distance, meaning that while he may have proven class, he will still need to improve to land the honors this weekend.

Forged Steel and Full Serrano should both be respected at Del Mar. The latter was a winner at the track at the end of last season, winning the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. However, it is easy to argue that this could be slightly longer than his preferred trip.

The former is an interesting contender based on his win in the G2 Hollywood Gold Cup earlier in the year. However, a return to form will be required after a disappointing fifth in the G2 Suburban.

That form line is also represented by Brad Cox-trained Hit Show on Saturday. We likely already know everything that we need to about the veteran, and he has looked below the level required to win a Grade One in both the G3 Blame and G2 Suburban Stakes this season.

Pacific Classic Stakes Picks

This is a more competitive race than the betting suggests. I would be prepared to take a chance on Japanese raider Finger, who will get a weight allowance as the only three-year-old runner in the field.

He has been the dominant horse on Japanese dirt this season, including a very eye-catching success in the Tokyo Derby last time out. We don’t know where his ceiling is, and further improvement could see him emerge as a Classic contender for a nation that won the big race for the first time 12 months ago.

Free Pick:

• Finger

Del Mar Picks for August 22

Race	Pick
R1 – Maiden Claiming	Elusive Con
R2 – Claiming	Om Time Gal
R3 – Allowance Optional Claiming	Trump Era
R4 – Maiden Special Weight	Will Do One
R5 – G2 Green Flash Handicap	Sorrento Sky
R6 – Maiden Special Weight	Dear Diary
R7 – Allowance Optional Claiming	First Peace
R8 – Allowance Optional Claiming	Berlin Wall
R9 – G1 Del Mar Oaks	Green Carrera
R10 – G1 Pacific Classic Stakes	SEE ABOVE
R11 – G2 Del Mar Mile Stakes	Detain