Dullahan, the lone three-year-old in a field of ten, rallied brilliantly from off-the-pace to defeat heavily favored Game On Dude in the $1,000,000 Pacific Classic (gr. I) this afternoon at Del Mar, breaking the track record in the process.
Ridden to victory by Joel Rosario, Dullahan got off to a good start at the beginning of the prestigious ten-furlong race, but was content to drop back into ninth-place early on as Riveting Reason set a moderately quick pace of :23.61 and :46.98 seconds. Suggestive Boy was racing up close in second, with Game On Dude in third after a poor start. Akkadian was also flashing speed, with Rail Trip, Amani, Jaycito, and Richard's Kid comprising the middle of the pack. Dullahan and Where's Sterling were the early trailers.
Rounding the far turn, Game On Dude made a bold run to seize command of the lead, and entered the homestretch with what appeared to be an insurmountable advantage. However, Dullahan was putting in a tremendous rally on the far outside, and the colt blew past Game On Dude in deep stretch to win going away in 1:59.54, eclipsing the previous track record of 2:00.61 set by Acclamation in this race last year. Overall, it was the second-fastest Pacific Classic of all time.
Richard's Kid rallied for third, while Rail Trip, Suggestive Boy, and Amani rounded out the top six. The winner is owned by Donegal Racing and trained by Dale Romans.
-Keelerman
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