DEL MAR : Concern Gets Inside Post for Pacific Classic

Concern, who arrived from the East Coast Wednesday night, drew the No. 1 post Thursday for Sunday’s $1-million Pacific Classic.

He’ll be ridden by Gary Stevens because Mike Smith, who has ridden the colt in his last five races, including victories in the Californian at Hollywood Park and the New Orleans Handicap at the Fair Grounds, is committed to Inside Information in the $150,000 Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga.

This is the rest of the six-horse field, smallest in the Classic’s five-year history, in gate order: Blumin Affair, with Chris McCarron riding, at 6-1; Slew Of Damascus, Corey Nakatani, 5-1; Soul Of The Matter, Kent Desormeaux, 2-1; Tinners Way, Eddie Delahoussaye, 7-2, and Cleante, Alex Solis, 8-1.

Under the weight-for-age conditions, they’ll each carry 124 pounds.

It’s a pox to be favored in this race. None of the four past favorites--Farma Way, Paseana, Best Pal and Bertrando--finished better than third. The first time Best Pal ran in the Pacific Classic, in the 1991 inaugural, he won as the 9-2 co-second choice.

Trainer Bobby Frankel’s winners in the last three years--Missionary Ridge, Bertrando and Tinners Way--paid $51, $8.20 and $16.20, respectively.