NAP of the Day: Back the Mare to beat the Boys in G1 Pacific Classic

It is the second day of our NAP of the Day in a row featuring US Races as we take a look at the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Pacific Classic over at Del Mar, where Adare Manor takes on the boys and can show them how it is done in a middling field.

US Races are priced-up closer to Post Time but we are expecting around 2/1 for the pick..

*For the latest odds and Race Cards for all Today's Horse Races, head on over to betfred.com

Anyone who has followed my US Racing work, either here or at my previous stop, will know that I have a couple of big weaknesses when it comes to tipping. I struggle to resist a Bob Baffert-trained horse in a big race on the West Coast and I love it when a top Mare or filly takes on the boys. When both of those things come together, you know where I’m going.

This is what we have in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time as the fine Adare Manor steps up to take on eight horses in the $1,000,000 Grade I Pacific Classic.

This move from her connections has taken this race from a lacklustre field to genuinely intriguing. None of the eight male horses entered have a Grade I win to their name. There is no Flightline, Maximum Security or California Chrome level horse in this race from the boys side but Adare Manor has three wins at that level to her name and eight Graded Stakes victories in total.

Her 2024 season has showed no signs of slowing down. She was beaten in the Beholder Mile but was coming on strong late before three-straight wins, including a very strong run over at Oaklawn Park in the Apple Blossom but it was the Clement L. Hirsch win that started getting the thought-process going about maybe going this route and the way the division played out, it looks like a bold but potentially wise decision.

Adare Manor gets 5lbs relief compared to her rivals despite having a better record and faster speed figures both this year and throughout her career when you compare them to the rest of the field.

*You can of course check out the 02:13 Del Mar Odds and Race Card over at betfred.com, where the race will be priced-up closer to Post Time.

Her top rivals are likely to come from stable-mate Reincarate who has flattered to deceive throughout his career and Dr. Venkman.

The former won the Sham and placed in the Rebel as a three-year-old to get into the Kentucky Derby but hasn’t won for over a year, although finishing second in the Hollywood Park Gold Cup in May shouldn’t be sniffed at.

As for Dr. Venkman, he’s a relative newcomer to the division and looked good winning the San Diego Handicap last time out but a lack of experience and being asked to go that extra quarter-mile means there are legitimate question marks and is tough to back at what is expected to be a price around 5/2.

I fully expect Adare Manor to open as the betting favourite and think at anything around 2/1 is a solid play.

The Pacific Classic is a ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and even though the Distaff is surely the aim for November, having that option in the back pocket would be interesting for Baffert and Co.

You can check out all of our NAP of the Day articles on that section of Betfred Insights...