Journalism Gets Post Six for Pacific Classic, Nysos Slightly Favored in Post Four

With eight entered for the 35th renewal of Saturday's GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar, a stellar matchup is anticipated with GI Preakness Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) set to take on his elders for the first time. Among those he'll face are 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist), who exited a win in the July 26 GII San Diego Handicap with a five-for-six record, and 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), the 2023 Eclipse champion 2-year-old colt and a triple Grade I winner. The 10-furlong Pacific Classic is a 'Win & You're In' race for the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, which will also be held at Del Mar.

Del Mar's morning-line maker John Lies installed Nysos as the slight favorite at 8-5 with Journalism just a tick behind him at 9-5. He put East Coast shipper Fierceness at 3-1.

The eight-horse field, with riders and morning-line odds follow:

1). Fierceness, John Velazquez, 3-1

2). Midnight Mammoth (Midnight Lute), Armando Ayuso, 12-1

3). Ultimate Gamble (Medaglia d'Oro), Kazushi Kimura, 20-1

4). Nysos, Flavien Prat, 8-5

5). Indispensable (Constitution), Paco Lopez, 15-1

6). Journalism, Umberto Rispoli, 9-5

7). Lure Him In (Khozan), Edwin Gonzalez, 20-1

8). Tarantino (Pioneerof the Nile), Edwin Madonado, 20-1

The post position draw for the Pacific Classic was held Tuesday evening at The Brigantine Restaurant near the seaside oval. The Pacific Classic will be run as race 10 Saturday on an 11-race card that also features another four graded races with first post at 1:30 p.m. PT.