Despite the loss of top west-coast names like Journalism (Curlin) and Nysos (Nyquist), Saturday's GI Pacific Classic still features an 11-deep field of hopefuls vying for a 'Win and You're In' spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Oct. 31.The retirement of those two stars has led to several east-coast shippers making the trip out to California with trainers such as Saffie Joseph Jr., Brendan Walsh, Bill Mott and Brad Cox all lined up for a chance.'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Knightsbridge (Nyquist) ships out for his California debut for Mott and owner/breeder Godolphin off a 10 1/4-length romp in the GIII Monmouth Cup going 1 1/8 miles July 18. The Pacific Classic will mark just his second Grade I start after he ran sixth as the favorite in the Churchill Downs Stakes May 2.“We knew he was pretty good,” Mott said of Knightsbridge who worked at Saratoga before shipping out to Del Mar last Saturday. “Obviously, he's progressed as time has gone on. He's done a little more each time. The last one [Monmouth Cup] was a good one so we'll see.”Knightsbridge has been on track several times since arriving last weekend, with Mott noting that “everything looks good to me. No negatives so far.”An interesting group of challengers is lined up inside of that wide-drawn favorite including a G1 Dubai World Cup winner in Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) who returns to California for the first time since he ran third in last year's GI Santa Anita Handicap. With earnings of over $9.5m, the 6-year-old ran fifth in Dubai this year behind Magnitude (Not This Time) then returned to the states to be third as the favorite in the GIII Blame Stakes May 30 and second in the GII Suburban Stakes most recently at Saratoga July 4. The Classic will be his first start at Del Mar.Finger on track at Del Mar | HorsephotosJapanese speedster Finger (Jpn) (Gun Runner) puts a two-race win streak on the line in his North American debut for trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka and is live off a 1 1/4-length win in the Tokyo Derby on a muddy 1 1/4 miles in his native Japan June 10. He had his final work in Japan Aug. 13, then flew in to California late last week and vanned to Del Mar over the weekend where he's spent the week acclimating after clearing quarantine.“He is able to move ahead without needing much urging,” Finger's exercise rider Yamazaki said after his final work on Japanese soil. “I think he is in a good place mentally.”Japanese liaison Mitsuoki Numamoto also added that, “He handled everything so well. During the flight he drank well and he ate well so it was comfortable for him.”John Sadler brings in the only runner to have previously contested the Pacific Classic: Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast). Runner-up in this race in 2024, the 7-year-old elder statesman of the group has been lightly raced the last eight months, making just two starts since running fifth to Nysos in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Third in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan 24, he is unraced since coming in fourth in the GIII Oaklawn Mile March 28.“He had a good work (6f, 1:11) on Saturday,” Sadler noted. “He schooled in the paddock Wednesday morning, and he'll go back again Thursday and Friday and stand in the gate on Thursday. Other than that, he's ready to go.”Facing the boys for Aggie Ordonez, 4-year-old filly Om N Joy (Om) won the GII Santa Margarita two back at Santa Anita May 30 and comes in off a close second in the GI Clement L Hirsch on the local surface Aug. 1.“I'm extremely excited,” Ordonez said of taking on the boys. “I'm glad I'm old enough to appreciate it.”Saffie Joseph Jr. brings in a pair of runners in GSW Forged Steel (Vekoma) and MGSW Navajo Warrior. Filling out the field is MGISW Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify), GSP Malarchuk (Nyquist), GSW Original Sin (Curlin) and GISW British Isles (Justify).Om N Joy | BenoitAnother Breeders' Cup slot is on the line earlier in the Del Mar card with several familiar foes taking on the GII Green Flash Handicap which offers a 'Win and You're In' chance for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.Last year's runner up by a nose, Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) returns to go one better after winning this race for the first time in 2024. He is one of two starters for Phil D'Amato who also sends out MGSP Sorrento Sky (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}). Wesley Ward saddles No Nay Hudson (Ire) (No Nay Never) who makes only his second start of the year after running fourth in this race last year and third in 2024. Richard Mandella also sends out a pair in Mescalero (Into Mischief) and GSW Sumter (War Front) who ran eighth in the Green Flash in 2025. Cal-bred Man O Rose (Stanford) goes for Jeff Mullins while Monster (Leinster), Incanto (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Virat (Bayern) all line up inside of Saratoga Special (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).In the GI Del Mar Oaks, Kensington Lane (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) made her North American debut a winning one in the GI Belmont Oaks at Saratoga July 4 for Donnacha O'Brien. Now with Phil D'Amato, she'll look to repeat that form in California drawn outside the likes of Irish invader Green Carrera (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) for Joseph O'Brien who won the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot two back. East-coast based Tam Tam (Medaglia d'Oro) makes the trip out for Phil Bauer having won the one-mile Tepin Stakes at Churchill June 27 after running third in the GIII Regret Stakes. Longshots Victorious Dream (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Lookin At Diamond (Looking At Lucky), Define (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), Inbox (GB) (Ectot {GB}), Peanutbutterbombe (Collected), Wild Like the West (Into Mischief) and Raiding Party (Ire) (Sioux Nation) round out the 10-strong field.The closing race on a marathon Del Mar card is the GII Del Mar Mile Stakes which brings in 7-year-old El Potente (Temple City) off the layoff since March for Dan Blacker and My Way Racing. Two of the top three from this race last year meet again in Almendares (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and rail-drawn Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile) along with the top three finishers from the local Wickerr Stakes July 19 in King of Gosford (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Twirling Point (Twirling Candy) and Artislas (Catalina Cruiser).Sunday action at Del Mar is highlighted by the GII Del Mar Derby for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the grass. Proletariat (Raging Bull {Fr}) comes in a two-race win streak for Jeff Mullins as does Melismatic (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), one of two for Phil D'Amato. GI Kentucky Derby runner Pavlovian (Pavel) makes his turf debut here for Doug O'Neill outside of up-and-coming Tribalism (Ire) (No Nay Never).Counting Stars | Sarah AndrewAlabama Runs Through Counting StarsSaratoga features the GI Alabama Stakes Saturday with all eyes on the two-time Grade-I winner Counting Stars (Honor A.P.) For West Point Thoroughbreds. Third in the GI Kentucky Oaks, she turned the tables on Always a Runner (Gun Runner) in both the Acorn and the Coaching Club America Oaks, posting a last-out 100 Beyer Speed Figure July 25.“She could become the third filly ever to win three Grade I races at Saratoga in one meet,” trainer Mark Casse told the TDN. “She's already won two, the Coaching Club American Oaks and the Acorn, and I can't say enough great things about her. She's a trainer's dream.”She's one of two in the field for Casse, the other being CCA Oaks third Measure (Essential Quality).Only five other fillies lined up to take on the 1-2 morning-line favorite. Chad Brown, who also trains Always a Runner, switches things up here and sends out My Gun's Loaded (Gun Runner) instead. Perfect in her last two starts, the lightly-raced filly is jumping up into deep waters for the first time off a one-mile allowance win at Saratoga July 24.“It's a big jump in distance and that's not ideal, but she's had two good runs over the surface, which I like,” Brown said. “She's been a nice addition to the barn and I've been very impressed with her since Day One.”Longshots Nycon (Nyquist), sixth in the CCA Oaks, Ati Girl (Nyquist) and A.P.'s Girl (Honor A.P.) also come in looking for what would be their first stakes win.Graded action is rounded out Saturday with Woodbine's GIII Seaway Stakes going seven furlongs on the Tapeta while Century Mile hosts the GIII Canadian Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles.The post Knightsbridge-Led Pacific Classic One Of Two ‘WAYI’ Races Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.