California’s signature summer season race, the $1 million Pacific Traditional Stakes Saturday at Del Mar, drew a aggressive and enormous area of horses ages 3 and older vying for a fees-paid berth to the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
The 1 ¼-mile Pacific Traditional is likely one of the most prestigious races in U.S. Thoroughbred racing, and since its first working in 1991 has offered a number of moments that may endure within the sport’s historical past, together with Dare and Go’s upset of Cigar in 1996, Sweet Experience’s monitor document in 2003, the mare Beholder’s domination of males in 2015, and Flightline’s overpowering win in 2022.
This 12 months’s area lacks a celebrity however encompasses a various group led by Knightsbridge, who enters off of a dominant win within the Monmouth Cup Stakes final month; 2025 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Present; graded stakes-winning filly Om N Pleasure; Japanese invader Finger; and Full Serrano, runner-up on this race two years in the past.
The 36th Pacific Traditional might be televised reside on each FanDuel TV and on FS1 as a part of an “America’s Day on the Races” present, with a scheduled publish time of 9:30 p.m. ET.
Scheduled as Race 10 on this system, the Pacific Traditional kicks off the late Every day Double at Del Mar and is the center leg of the late Decide 3, each of which provide a beautiful 15% takeout. It’s additionally included within the late Decide 4, Decide 5, and $2 Decide 6.
Learn on for details about the entire Pacific Traditional runners plus some playing insights.
1. Om N Pleasure (20-1 morning-line odds)
Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
Coach: Aggie Ordonez
House owners: Baker Stables, Scanlan Racing, and Michael Golovko
Profession document: 18 begins – 6 wins – 1 second – 5 thirds
Profession earnings: $696,703
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: 108
Pedigree: Om – Margie’s Minute, by Onerous Spun
Age: 4
Colour: Chestnut
Working model: Stalker/nearer
Evaluation: One feminine has received the Pacific Traditional in its historical past – Corridor of Famer Beholder, who received by 8 ¼ lengths in 2015 (she additionally completed second to California Chrome in 2016). Om N Pleasure will not be in Beholder’s class, to say the least, however she’s put collectively a profitable profession and is arguably in peak type this summer season. The California-bred comes into the Pacific Traditional off of a runner-up end by a half-length to Eunomia within the Aug. 1, 1 1/8-mile Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Introduced by Oak Tree Racing Affiliation on this monitor, the place she rallied late to shut a major hole however got here up quick. Previous to that, Om N Pleasure received the 1 1/16-mile Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita Park by 3 ¾ lengths with one other robust rally. This filly has been particularly good in Southern California and proved she may run nicely at longer distances in her two current outings after primarily competing in sprints and one-mile races earlier in her profession. To repeat: she’s not Beholder, however this isn’t a classic Pacific Traditional area both. Om N Pleasure is price a protracted look as a horse to make use of in unique bets on the very least with common rider and Corridor of Famer Kent Desormeaux within the saddle.
2. Cast Metal
Jockey: Edwin Gonzalez
Coach: Saffie Joseph Jr.
House owners: C2 Racing Steady, Mathis Steady, and TCC Stables
Profession document: 19 begins – 5 wins – 3 seconds – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $436,130
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: 107
Pedigree: Vekoma – Scorecard, by Story of the Cat
Age: 4
Colour: Grey or roan
Working model: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Evaluation: East Coast-based Cast Metal turned his first journey to Southern California right into a profession peak in late Might, main from begin to end to defeat 4 opponents within the 1 ¼-mile Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes by 9 ½ lengths at Santa Anita Park. The Vekoma colt had competed on filth and turf previous to the Gold Cup with little distinction however had proven enchancment beginning in early 2026 with two allowance wins and a third-place end within the 1 ½-mile Temperence Hill Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The Hollywood Gold Cup area was subpar in contrast with historic commonplace, and whereas this 12 months’s Pacific Traditional area lacks a real celebrity racehorse, it’s a more durable group. After his Gold Cup win, Cast Metal shipped to Saratoga for the July 4 Suburban Stakes Introduced by Subourbon Life, the place he buckled in the beginning and was unable to realize early place close to pacesetting Phileas Fogg, tiring to complete fifth and 12 lengths behind that foe however solely two lengths behind runner-up Hit Present. Offered he will get off to a greater begin Saturday, Cast Metal must be a part of what initiatives to be a strong early tempo within the Pacific Traditional. He’s an underlay at 5-1 odds on the morning line regardless of the Gold Cup win and a sequence of excellent exercises at Saratoga for the reason that Suburban.
3. Finger
Jockey: Keita Tosaki
Coach: Hiroyasu Tanaka
Proprietor: M’s Racing
Profession document: 8 begins – 4 wins – 4 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,303,486
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: n/a
Pedigree: Gun Runner – Estilo Talentoso, by Maclean’s Music
Age: 3
Colour: Bay
Working model: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Evaluation: With the retirements of Nysos and Journalism, the California ranks of prime older horses took an enormous hit earlier this summer season – so it makes good sense for connections of this Japanese runner to ship abroad and take purpose on the Pacific Traditional. Finger has not completed worse than second in eight profession begins and comes into Saturday’s race off of two consecutive stakes wins at Ohi Racecourse in Tokyo, the 1 1/8-mile Haneda Hai in late April and the 1 ¼-mile Tokyo Derby on June 10. He set the tempo in each victories and responded nicely when requested on the prime of the stretch by common jockey Keita Tosaki to attract away from his challengers. Each of those races had been run clockwise (reverse from the usual in U.S. racing) and on the secondary racing circuit in Japan. Primarily based on video replays, Finger seems to have a gentle, cruising model with out a lot flip of foot. However, he’s competed in fields of 13 horses or extra in seven of his eight begins and does have a stakes win going counterclockwise, a 1 ½-length rating at Funabashi Racecourse again in January. Finger is the particular wild card on this 12 months’s Pacific Traditional and on the very least must be a part of the early tempo. Japanese invaders have shone at Del Mar in recent times, together with twice on filth with Marche Lorraine within the 2021 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Without end Younger in final 12 months’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional. Can this colt do the identical?
4. Subsanador (12-1)
Jockey: Mike Smith
Coach: Richard Mandella
Proprietor: Wathnan Racing
Profession document: 20 begins – 9 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $1,024,824
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: 119
Pedigree: Fortify – Save the Date, by Hurricane Cat
Age: 7
Colour: Chesnut
Working model: Stalker
Evaluation: Subsanador got here again from a 1 ½-year layoff again in March and in three begins since has proven little of the stakes-winning type he displayed in summer season and fall 2024. He completed fourth twice in stakes at Santa Anita Park and Oaklawn Park earlier than being eased within the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes Might 25 and ending final of 5 in a race Cast Metal received on the entrance finish. In his protection, Subsanador had troubled begins in all three races, and he’s posted some strong exercises at Del Mar since his Gold Cup flop. This horse (one among two entrants owned by Wathnan Racing together with Hit Present) owns the best profession Equibase Pace Determine within the area, a 119, and he additionally owns a win over $5 million earner Nationwide Treasure, each coming again in 2024 in route stakes races. There’s sufficient again class to make this Argentine-bred an interesting longshot on this wide-open version of the Pacific Traditional, however he’ll must get off to a clear begin with a view to publish the upset beneath Corridor of Famer Mike Smith. Smith is a four-time winner of this race, as is fellow Corridor of Famer Richard Mandella.
5. Malarchuk (10-1)
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Coach: Michael McCarthy
House owners: ERJ Racing or Reddam Racing
Profession document: 10 begins – 3 wins – 5 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $320,910
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: 109
Pedigree: Nyquist – Seize the Ring, by Tiznow
Age: 5
Colour: Bay
Working model: Stalker
Evaluation: This Nyquist horse moved from coach Chad Brown’s oversight and a profession spent working on the allowance stage to Michael McCarthy’s barn earlier this 12 months, and since then has completed second in two stakes races, the 1 1/8-mile Casa Ford Sunland Park Stakes and the 1 ¼-mile Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Within the Gold Cup, Malarchuk pressed front-running Cast Metal early however light on the far flip and was simply in a position to maintain second whereas ending 9 ½ lengths behind the winner. Such an effort doesn’t encourage confidence heading right into a Pacific Traditional that features Cast Metal and a number of other extra achieved horses, even when general this 12 months’s version lacks a real star. Cast Metal has a very good pedigree for dealing with a mile and 1 / 4 and his midpack, stalking model may assist him get first run on the closers if the early tempo is cooking Saturday night. Will probably be fascinating to see how jockey Umberto Rispoli, one among Del Mar’s main riders, works with Malarchuk as he will get aboard for the primary time. He’s a horse to think about using in exacta/trifecta bets however an outsider to win.
6. Authentic Sin (15-1)
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Coach: Brendan Walsh
Proprietor: Calumet Farm
Profession document: 9 begins – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $390,235
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: 105
Pedigree: Curlin – Magnificence and Mild, by Unbridled’s Tune
Age: 4
Colour: Grey or roan
Working model: Stalker/nearer
Evaluation: Toss out his final race, and this Curlin colt is an interesting longshot in a wide-open Pacific Traditional. Authentic Sin received thrice earlier in 2026 in races 1 1/16 miles or longer, together with in his stakes debut Might 30 at Churchill Downs, the place he gamely held on to attain by a half-length over Who Dey within the 1 1/8-mile Blame Stakes, a race by which Hit Present rallied to complete third. Then, he shipped as much as Saratoga for the 1 ¼-mile Suburban Stakes Introduced by Subourbon Life on July 4, the place he was despatched off at odds of 21.66-1 and ran to that estimate, ending ninth of 11, 18 lengths behind wire-to-wire winner Phileas Fogg and eight lengths behind runner-up Hit Present. He’s posted regular exercises at Saratoga since that race and, if he can rebound, has the pedigree and upside to be an element within the Pacific Traditional, particularly contemplating that Del Mar’s main jockey Juan Hernandez will take the reins for the primary time.
7. Hit Present (6-1)
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Coach: Brad Cox
Proprietor: Wathnan Racing
Profession document: 27 begins – 12 wins – 3 seconds – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $9,541,683
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: 110
Pedigree: Sweet Experience – Actress, by Tapit
Age: 6
Colour: Grey or roan
Working model: Nearer
Evaluation: Regardless of incomes greater than $9.5 million on the monitor, Hit Present has by no means reached celebrity standing. He’s a hard-trying, constant racehorse who can often be counted on to make a very good effort however wants a strong tempo and racing luck with a view to win. That is very true prior to now two years, the place he’s received 5 instances in 12 begins with late rallies and by no means by greater than 1 ½ lengths. A type of wins got here within the 2025 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, held at 1 ¼ miles, the place he scored by a half-length over Mixto with worldwide celebrity Without end Younger two lengths again. In his three races main as much as the Pacific Traditional, Hit Present has completed fifth within the Dubai World Cup, third with a poor journey within the 1 1/8-mile Blame Stakes received by Authentic Sin, and second by a distant 10 lengths to Phileas Fogg within the 1 ¼-mile Suburban Stakes Introduced by Subourbon Life. Florent Geroux, who rode Hit Present in his Dubai World Cup begins and to 6 different stakes wins in his profession, might be aboard Saturday, and that’s an enormous plus. As famous, he’ll want a quick tempo to arrange his rally and a clear journey as nicely, but when his odds stay within the 6-1 vary the son of 2003 Pacific Traditional winner Sweet Experience is price a protracted look as a win candidate in his first profession begin at Del Mar, and a must-use horse in exactas and trifectas.
8. British Isles (12-1)
Jockey: Diego Herrera
Coach: Richard Baltas
House owners: Slam Dunk Racing, Deborah Baltas, and Cynthia McClanahan
Profession document: 26 begins – 4 wins – 6 seconds – 4 thirds
Profession earnings: $568,201
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: 107
Pedigree: Justify – Purely Sizzling, by Pure Prize
Age: 5
Colour: Chestnut
Working model: Press the tempo/stalker
Evaluation: This Justify gelding made the change from turf to filth again in late 2025 and since then has received as soon as in 5 begins, with that victory coming within the 1 ¼-mile Santa Anita Handicap Introduced by Yaamava’ Resort & On line casino at San Manuel March 7, the place he powered clear to show a lot one of the best by 4 ½ lengths. That version of the Large ’Cap drew a below-average area primarily based on historic requirements and consisted of solely 5 horses. Whereas this 12 months’s Pacific Traditional area lacks star energy, it’s nonetheless higher than the quartet British Isles defeated this spring, and of a higher concern is his document since that win – sixth by 11 ¼ lengths within the 1 3/16-mile Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland after which fourth by 10 lengths within the Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita received by Cast Metal. He’ll must rebound to his Large ’Cap type to have any shot at an upset Saturday, and Diego Herrera, who was aboard on March 7, is again within the saddle.
9. Navajo Warrior (8-1)
Jockey: Micah Husbands
Coach: Saffie Joseph Jr.
House owners: BAG Racing Stables, Miller Racing, Dr. Derek Paul, Mathis Steady, Paul Braverman, and Timothy Pinch
Profession document: 18 begins – 10 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $632,009
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: 112
Pedigree: Sweet Experience – Crosswinds, by Storm Cat
Age: 5
Colour: Darkish bay or brown
Working model: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Evaluation: Like a number of different entrants in Saturday’s Pacific Traditional, Navajo Warrior comes into the race in superb type racing at a decrease stage of competitors and stands an upset probability if he can keep his present type whereas extending in distance. The gelding by 2003 Pacific Traditional winner and monitor record-setter Sweet Experience made his first 16 begins on the allowance and starter-optional claiming stage and was initially primarily based in Southern California earlier than altering trainers to Saffie Joseph Jr. and shifting east in summer season 2025. He remained a strong competitor in allowance races till Might of this 12 months, when Joseph entered him within the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Particular Stakes at Laurel Park. Navajo Warrior received that race by 2 ¾ lengths in gate-to-wire vogue after which turned in one other robust front-running effort within the 1 1/8-mile Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, scoring by 3 ½ lengths. Younger jockey Micah Husbands was within the saddle at Prairie Meadows and retains the mount within the Pacific Traditional, and he figures to be aggressive on Navajo Warrior and hustle him to the lead. There are a number of different contenders in Saturday’s race preferring to be forwardly positioned, however Navajo Warrior is in too good type to dismiss, particularly as a trifecta and/or superfecta filler.
10. Full Serrano (8-1)
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Coach: John Sadler
Proprietor: Hronis Racing
Profession document: 22 begins – 7 wins – 6 seconds – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,245,923
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: 117
Pedigree: Full Mast – Serra Do Mar, by Soar Begin
Age: 7
Colour: Darkish bay or brown
Working model: Press the tempo/stalker
Evaluation: Full Serrano returns to his favourite monitor for the primary time in 2026, and he’ll must a minimum of come inside placing vary of the shape he displayed at Del Mar in 2024 with a view to win Saturday’s Pacific Traditional. Almost two years in the past, he got here a half-length shy of profitable the Pacific Traditional, setting a reasonable tempo on the entrance finish and battling gamely within the stretch solely to yield within the closing strides to Mixto. One race later, Full Serrano reduce in distance and scored an upset win within the Breeders’ Cup Dust Mile at Del Mar, with Joel Rosario using. After a 10-month layoff, the Argentine-bred got here again to Del Mar and romped in a one-mile allowance race in September 2025, and adopted that up with a detailed second within the 1 1/8-mile Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita. Since then he’s gone winless in three begins – a fifth in final 12 months’s BC Dust Mile at Del Mar, a strong third within the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes in January, and a fourth by 2 ¾ lengths within the Oaklawn Mile Stakes March 28. Full Serrano’s Equibase Pace Figures have dropped into the mid-90s since his Goodwood run, a worrisome pattern. On the optimistic facet, he’s been coaching nicely at Del Mar in current weeks and will get two-time Pacific Traditional winner Rosario again within the saddle after a one-race absence. John Sadler has received 4 editions of the Pacific Traditional, all since 2018 and with Hronis Racing both as sole proprietor or co-owner.
11. Knightsbridge (5-2)
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Coach: Invoice Mott
Proprietor: Godolphin
Profession document: 11 begins – 7 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $923,155
Prime Equibase Pace Determine: 109
Pedigree: Nyquist – Tyburn Guide, by Bernardini
Age: 5
Colour: Darkish bay or brown
Working model: Press the tempo
Evaluation: Knightsbridge is the 5-2 morning-line favourite within the Pacific Traditional coming off of an attention grabbing, 10 ¼-length win within the 1 1/8-mile Monmouth Cup Stakes July 18, which was his first profession begin in a two-turn race. Dealing with solely 4 opponents, Knightsbridge set a strong however comparatively unpressured tempo and opened up on the far flip and thru the stretch to win simply. Total, this well-bred Nyquist horse has top-of-the-line résumés within the Pacific Traditional area, having posted three stakes wins at distances starting from seven furlongs to at least one mile previous to his Monmouth Cup rating. He additionally completed second on June 6 to since-retired Nysos within the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga, aka the “Met Mile.” In all probability, Nysos can be the post-time favourite in Saturday’s race had he not been retired, so it’s not shocking that Knightsbridge inherits that standing prematurely. Nonetheless, he’ll solely be making his second begin in a route race towards 10 opponents slightly than 4, and he’ll break from the far exterior publish place as nicely. Jockey Junior Alvarado might want to guarantee his mount will get away cleanly with a view to use sufficient pace to safe an advantageous place early within the race inside contact of the leaders. Successful this race is likely to be a more durable project for Knightsbridge than his morning-line odds counsel.
