Usual Suspects Meet Again

For the third time in seven weeks, we get to watch Skimming, Futural and Captain Steve battle. This time, the setting is the $1 million Pacific Classic. Actually, Captain Steve hasn’t done much battling of late. The winner of the $6 million Dubai World Cup against a suspect field earlier this year, Captain Steve has lost three times since at 7-10, 7-10 and 9-5 and is not getting any better. So, the main contenders again are Futural and Skimming. Futural finished first in the Hollywood Gold Cup but was disqualified--on a legitimate call--and placed third for bothering Skimming. The latter then continued his love affair with Del Mar, beating Futural by a length in the San Diego Handicap three weeks ago. The defending champion, Skimming is the 8-5 morning-line choice as he tries to give trainer Bobby Frankel his sixth win in the Grade I race. The presence of Dixie Dot Com, who is better than his 8-1 price would indicate, could help Futural, who has run well in seven consecutive races for trainer Craig Dollase. Until Sundown, a 3-year-old whose claim to fame is a victory in a Grade III race, and Dig For It, whose last win came againsta suspect field, are also entered.

Race of the day: Trainer Bob Baffert is on his way to another training title at Del Mar and has unleashed some talented 2-year-olds during the meet. He may be sending out another in today’s fourth race in Requesto, a son of Smoke Glacken who was purchased for $130,000 last year by Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corporation. A dark bay, Requesto has been training exceptionally well and capped his preparation with a 1:10 3/5 work, the best of 20 at six furlongs, on Monday. Requesto will be coupled in the wagering with Smart Chip, a son of Forest Wildcat who cost Salman $675,000 a year ago. Also in the field is Striking Song, a $1.4 million yearling who was a distant second at Keeneland in his lone start on April 12, Timely Action, the beaten favorite in his first start of the meet on July 28, and Sunray Spirit, who was second in his second career start for trainer Eoin Harty on Aug. 4.

Who’s hot: Go Go. The 4-year-old California-bred filly has won three in a row for trainer Warren Stute and Thomas and Thomas Racing and is a nose away from being unbeaten in six starts this year. She will be favored to win for the ninth time in 15 starts in today’s $150,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap.

Who’s not: I’m a Frijole Baby. A California-bred daughter of Court Dance, she is 0 for 26 and will make another attempt for her maiden win in today’s opener at Ferndale. This will be her third start in nine days at the meet.

Exotically speaking: We’ll play a trifecta in the first race using Lasting Tribute on top, Our Main Man, Venator and Prima Nocti in the second spot and all in the third.