Pacific Favorite General Challenge Is Facing the Jinx

Trainers Bob Baffert and Bobby Frankel, who have both won the race before, will run four of the seven horses entered Saturday in the $1-million Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

Baffert’s pair includes General Challenge, last year’s winner, who was installed as the 9-5 favorite after he drew the No. 2 post position Wednesday. Baffert’s other starter is River Keen, an 8-year-old who finished second last year, three lengths behind General Challenge, after running last in the Pacific Classic in 1997.

Frankel, who won the Pacific Classic four years in a row, starting in 1992, is running Skimming, an eight-length winner of the San Diego Handicap on Aug. 6, and Euchre, whose first stakes win came in his last start, in the Bel Air Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 15.

“We’ll be trying to overcome the jinx of the Pacific Classic,” Baffert said. “It seems like it strikes every year.”

Since the Pacific Classic was first run, in 1991, only one favorite--Gentlemen in 1997--has won the race. The most shocking beaten favorite has been Cigar, who had won 16 in a row and was 1-10 when he ran second to Dare And Go in 1996.

General Challenge races for John and Betty Mabee, who won the inaugural Classic with Best Pal. The only other owner to win the race twice has been Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms, which sent out Tinners Way in 1994 and 1995. Frankel trained Tinners Way, as well as Missionary Ridge, the winner in 1992, and Bertrando, who finished first in 1993.

Although Skimming is second on the morning line, the horse Baffert fears the most is Tiznow, a colt who has won twice and has come in second twice in five starts this year after not running as a 2-year-old. In his last start, Tiznow ran second to Baffert’s Captain Steve in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park. The race before that, the Affirmed Handicap, Tiznow beat Dixie Union, who went on to win the Haskell Handicap at Monmouth Park.

With Victor Espinoza, who rode Tiznow in both of those races, taking the mount on River Keen, trainer Jay Robbins has hired Chris McCarron to ride his colt for the first time. McCarron won the Pacific Classic with Free House in 1998.

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Baffert has won the Del Mar Futurity four years in a row and, after Wednesday, a string of five consecutive wins looks distinctly possible.

Flame Thrower, who had broken his maiden in his debut here July 26, stamped himself the one to beat in the seven-furlong Futurity with an authoritative win in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes.

Owned by Gary Garber and ridden by Corey Nakatani, Flame Thrower, a Florida-bred son of Saint Ballado and the 4-1 third choice in the field of seven 2-year-olds, took the lead shortly after the start and went on to beat 13-1 shot Trailthefox by almost three lengths in 1:16 2/5 for the 6 1/2 furlongs.

The disappointment of the Best Pal was Squirtle Squirt. The even-money favorite by virtue of his wins in the Willard Proctor, Haggin and Hollywood Juvenile Championship at Hollywood Park, the Marquetry colt was never a factor Wednesday. He checked in fourth, nearly 14 lengths behind the winner.

Both Garber and Baffert said the Futurity, which will be run on closing day, Sept. 13, is definitely next for Flame Thrower, who was purchased for $270,000 earlier this year.

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Staff writer Bob Mieszerski contributed to this story.

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Pacific Classic Field

The field, in post position order, for Saturday’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar:

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Horse Jockey Odds River Keen Victor Espinoza 15-1 General Challenge Corey Nakatani 9-5 Euchre David Flores 8-1 Tiznow Chris McCarron 5-1 Skimming Garrett Gomez 5-2 Ecton Park Kent Desormeaux 7-2 Forty One Carats Eddie Delahoussaye 12-1

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Purse: $1 million. Race conditions: 3-year-olds and up. Weights: All will carry 124 pounds except Tiznow, who will carry 117 as the only 3-year-old in field. TV: Fox Sports Net (coverage from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30).