Columnist Ralph Siraco: Record Del Mar crowd sees Perfect victory in Classic

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Aug. 23, 2004 | 9:19 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

It was a Pleasantly Perfect day at Del Mar for the Pacific Classic. Simply Perfect, if you get my Drift.

Sunday, the vacation spa of Southern California racing presented its marquee race of the seaside meeting. The Grade I Pacific Classic has been the highlight of the Del Mar season since its inception in 1991 when Best Pal won as a sophomore and although there were no 3-year-olds in this year's renewal, it certainly live up to it's billing.

In addition to assembling the best older dirt horses in training, which included Hollywood Gold Cup winner Total Impact, Stephen Foster victor Colonial Colony and multi-Graded winner During, it also showcased the undefeated Choctaw Nation and Breeders' Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup winner Pleasantly Perfect. Oh yeah, and the consistent Perfect Drift, who dropped in after a heartbreaking loss in the Grade I Whitney at Saratoga just two weeks ago. Longshots Night Patrol and El Elogiado filled the field of talent for this 14th edition of the 1 1/4-mile centerpiece.

This Pacific Classic will be remembered for the full circle nature of a merry-go-round sport.

But, before we take you to Sunday's Pacific Classic, a little history is in order.

It was 1996, superhorse Cigar was invading for the Pacific Classic with the modern-day consecutive win-streak record on the line. Cigar had racked up 16 consecutive victories over two years, tying the great Citation. The streak included wins in the Dubai World Cup and Breeders' Cup Classic. At equal weights to his rivals, it seemed like easy-pickings for the record. In front of 44,181 -- the largest crowd in Del Mar history -- Cigar went off the odds-on favorite under regular rider Jerry Bailey. Just a tick under two minutes after the field was dispatched, Dare And Go had upset Cigar to give trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Alex Solis their first Pacific Classic victories at the expense of the stunning defeat.

Fast forward to last year. Jerry Bailey had returned to Del Mar in search of a due Pacific Classic trophy. Riding for trainer Bobby Frankel, who had literally owned the race with six victories spanning the Pacific Classic from 1992 to 2001, Bailey scales handicap star Medaglia d'Oro. But, it would be a super performance by the Ron McAnally-trained Candy Ride and jockey Julie Krone that would thwart Bailey again. Candy Ride has not raced since that brilliant victory.

Now we move to opening week at this Del Mar stand. Alex Solis, regular rider for Pleasantly Perfect, was turning into the homestretch of the third race on July 23 aboard Golden K K, when she clipped heels with another horse and sent Solis to the ground -- hard. After three hours of tedious surgery to repair a fractured vertebra, Solis realized that his recuperation from the injury would be lengthy. He expects to return to the saddle by year's end. On the third day of the Del Mar season, Solis was off Pleasantly Perfect just when the Horse Of The Year candidate was returning to the races with a defense of the Breeders' Cup Classic as his main goal.

Trainer Richard Mandella knew that he needed to line up a rider for the long haul. A first-class rider. Although Mike Smith rode Pleasantly Perfect in his comeback race, Mandella was thinking long range. Pleasantly Perfect finished second Aug. 1 in the San Diego Handicap for his Pacific Classic tune-up.

In stepped jockey Jerry Bailey sitting on Pleasantly Perfect for the Pacific Classic on Sunday. Bailey, who had his Cigar streak ruined by the same Mandella, was replacing the same Solis who engineered the upset. Bailey, who was seeking that Pacific Classic trophy that eluded him twice before. Bailey, who was beaten by Pleasantly Perfect in the Breeders' Cup Classic last year while aboard runner-up Medaglia d'Oro. The same Solis who was outpacing Bailey from his customary spot atop the national jockey money-earnings list -- a position he could reclaim from Solis with a victory in the $1 million Pacific Classic.

Yes, the one in the same Mandella, Solis and Bailey.

Pleasantly Perfect rolled to a 1-length victory over Perfect Drift in the Pacific Classic on Sunday at Del Mar. His victory was redeeming. His victory was satisfying. His victory replenished the faith of his supporters and put him back on the pedestal at the top of his division.

The victory finally gave Bailey his Pacific Classic trophy. Be it as unpredictable as the events that led him to the winner's circle aboard Pleasantly Perfect. Mandella has secured the services of Jerry Bailey for the Breeders' Cup Classic and said he may just train his star up to the Oct. 30 race at Lone Star Park.

The epilog to this story, however, is the class and unselfishness of Alex Solis.

Although saddened by being sidelined -- an all but too real risk of a dangerous profession -- Solis was waxing appreciation and admiration for what had transpired on the track at Del Mar Sunday. In a back brace that reached like a halo over his head, Solis was visible in the paddock giving Bailey -- who had never ridden Pleasantly Perfect before -- important last minute insight about his equine partner before the pair took the track for the race. Beaming with a wide smile of pride and satisfaction, Solis was also one of the first to greet and congratulate the victorious jockey and horse back in the winner's circle. This time with a halo that looked like a back brace.