Baffert wins second consecutive Pacific Classic with Richard’s Kid

Richard’s Kid and trainer Bob Baffert, along with jockey Mike Smith, made it two straight victories in Del Mar’s signature race with a narrow triumph in the 20th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic Presented by TVG on Aug. 28.

Outrun in the early stages of the mile and one-quarter contest, Richard’s Kid circled his opposition on the stretch, drove to the lead in deep stretch and then held off 12-1 longshot Crowded House. In a racing rarity, the Trakus system showed that Richard’s Kid had traveled a greater distance than any of his nine foes.

Richard’s Kid, a five-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid owned by Zabeel International Racing Corp. and trained by Bob Baffert, navigated the ten-furlongs in 2:03.27. He earned $600,000 to boost his bankroll to $1,566,370. The Pacific Classic is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In race series, clinching Richard’s Kid a spot in the Breedeers’ Cup Classic (G1) November 6 at Churchill Downs.

Richard’s Kid is the third two-time winner of the Pacific Classic, joining Skimming and Tinners Way on that list of repeat victors. For his career, Richard’s Kid has won eight of 26 starts.

Baffert was at Saratoga on Saturday, so assistant Jim Barnes handled saddling duties for the Pacific Classic. Calling TVG from New York after the race, Baffert heaped praise on his staff for Richard’s Kid’s preparation, particularly Barnes and his wife Dana, who also works for Baffert and was hurt earlier in the week in a training accident.

In the afterglow of victory, Barnes recounted his pre-race talk with Smith. “There had been a lot of talk about speed holding today, but Mike let him drop back and make his big run. He ran well on this racetrack. He’s two for two in the Pacific Classic. You can’t get any better than that. I just told Mike,  You remember your horse, you know how he runs. Mike just said we’re just going to break, let him drop back and let him run his race. And that’s what he did. He really fired off a slow pace and that’s hard to do.”

As Baffert talked about future plans and the fact that Smith is the regular rider for Zenyatta, he joked that maybe “Mike will take off her” if they both run in the Breeders’ Cup.

Baffert has now won the Pacific Classic three times, the first with General Challenge in 1999.