Mixto at all times confirmed coach Doug O’Neill that he had capacity, however the 4-year-old colt had by no means put it collectively sufficient to face within the winner’s circle greater than as soon as in 13 prior tries. O’Neill’s unending optimism incessantly paid off when Mixto received the $1 million Grade 1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Basic Stakes in a shocking upset Aug. 31 at Del Mar.
“This horse was at all times knocking on the door,” stated O’Neill.
The 1 1/4-mile Pacific Basic misplaced its morning-line favourite a few days earlier than the race when the mare Adare Manor tied up barely after a gallop and was scratched. Dr. Venkman, the winner of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap earlier within the meet, inherited the favourite’s mantle. It was the longshots, nevertheless, that blew the race huge open from the second the gates opened.
Mixto got here into the race nonetheless eligible for a non-winners of two allowance race and was despatched off because the second-to-longest shot within the eight-horse subject at 22-1 on the tote board. He sat behind fellow longshot Full Serrano in second a lot of the race underneath jockey Kyle Frey, who accomplished the most important day of his profession after earlier on the cardboard capturing the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap with Gold Phoenix.
Full Serrano, making solely his second U.S. begin after successful a stakes in his native Argentina, shot to the early lead and valiantly tried to steal the race for coach John Sadler, who received 4 of the final six runnings of the Pacific Basic, together with with the wonderful Flightline in 2022.
Dr. Venkman raced simply in third, theoretically positioned in an ideal place to choose up the items when Full Serrano and Mixto packed it in, nevertheless, neither one did. They held their positions by way of each turns and into the stretch till Mixto drew alongside Full Serrano in deep stretch and received the race by a half-length in 2:02.10.
Reincarnate handed Dr. Venkman to take third.
Although Mixto had solely received one race, he completed second within the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 26 and third within the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes Jan. 27 at Santa Anita. He had most lately run second to Lammas within the July 7 $150,000 Pleasanton Mile.
The Pacific Basic was part of the Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection, and along with his win, Mixto earned an expense-paid berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic, which shall be run on the identical course and distance on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
The win was the second Pacific Basic victory of O’Neill’s profession following Lava Man in 2006.
Gold Phoenix captured the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap offered by the Japan Racing Affiliation on Aug. 31, successful the race for the third straight time and giving coach Phil D’Amato his ninth Del Mar Handicap victory within the final 11 runnings of the race.
Favored Gold Phoenix saved his best dramatic flourish for the ultimate strides to get the win. Dicey Mo Chara had led virtually all through the whole 1 3/8 miles on the turf whereas jockey Kyle Frey had Gold Phoenix loping alongside in third. Frey snuck Gold Phoenix up the rail within the stretch to surge ahead and nailed a sport Dicey Mo Chara proper on the wire to win by a neck in 2:17.05. Balnikhov, additionally skilled by D’Amato, closed furiously for third, a head behind Dicey Mo Chara.
“He is such a cool horse,” Frey stated. “He simply does what he does, and he likes to battle. He is aware of what it is all about.”
Gold Phoenix earned his third journey to the Breeders’ Cup with the win within the Del Mar Handicap, a Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection “win and also you’re in” occasion. The victory secured the gelding an automated, fees-paid berth to the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, a race wherein he completed tenth in 2022 and fourth in 2023.
