Mixto came into the $1 million Pacific Classic with just a maiden win from 13 career starts. He came out of Del Mar’s showcase summer race with not only surprising victory, but an all-fees paid, automatic berth in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2.
Quite a Saturday night at the races for trainer Doug O’Neill, jockey Kyle Frey and owner Calumet Farm.
The 4-year-old was dismissed at 22-1 odds, the second longest shot in the field of eight (favorite Adare Manor was scratched the day before the race,
It was all Mixto in the end. After stalking leader Full Serrano early on in the 1 ¼-mile race, Mixto forged to the front in deep stretch and won by a half-length.
The chestnut son of Good Magic returned a hefty $46.20 on a $2 win bet. Winning time was 2:02.10. Full Serrano was second at 7-1, with Bob Baffert’s Reincarnate third.
With Baffert’s star filly Adare Manor out, Dr. Venkman was sent off as the favorite at nearly even money but finished an unthreatening fourth. O’Neill also sent out Katonah, who finished seventh.
Mixto didn’t win his first race until his seventh start, at a mile on Nov. 17, 2023, at Del Mar. He then went 0-for-6 before Saturday’s breakthrough. Purchased for $145,000 as a 2-year-old, Mixto now has a resume of 14-2-2-4 and earnings of $762,180.
"We thought the five (Katonah) probably had the best chance of the two but as the race unfolded, Kyle had Mixto in the perfect spot and he just ran lights out,’’ O’Neill said. “He gave us a few hints of being a special horse but today he really validated the horse he is. When you look at his PP's, he's run in a lot of different places, and he's always been surrounding them and today it just unfolded perfectly, and Kyle Frey just rode a perfect race.”
Frey, who earlier on the card won the Del Mar Handicap aboard Gold Phoenix, said: “This is the biggest day of racing in my career. No doubt.”
Conclude ($12.20) gave trainer Phil D’Amato a sweep of the three stakes run over the infield grass course.
Ridden by Hector Berrios, Conclude won by a head over Almendares for his fifth victory in nine starts. The colt won the Del Mar Derby last summer.
“I left it up to Hector. The horse likes to be up there close. He broke bad last time. We did a little gate schooling with him and he broke like a rocket today and Hector nursed him along beautifully and got the job done,’’ D’Amato said.
D’Amato also won the $300,000 Del Mar Handicap (G2) with 2-1 favorite Gold Phoenix ($6.80) -- a three-time winner -- and the $150,000 Green Flash Handicap (G3) with 2-1 favorite Motorious ($6.60), a three-quarter length winner over Johnny Podres.
The Green Flash is a “Win and You’re In” event to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1); the Del Mar Handicap is a “Win and You’re In” to the Breeders’ Cup.
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