Mixto always showed trainer Doug O'Neill that he had ability, but the 4-year-old Good Magic colt had never put it together enough to stand in the winner's circle more than once in 13 tries. O'Neill's never-ending optimism frequently pays off, however, and when Mixto drew the outside post in the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, the trainer knew he owed the colt a shot.
"This horse was always knocking on the door," said O'Neill. "He generally likes being on the outside of horses."
The 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic lost its morning-line favorite when the mare Adare Manor tied up slightly after a gallop a couple days before the race. San Diego Handicap (G2) winner Dr. Venkman inherited the favorite's mantle, and longshots blew the race wide open from the moment the gate opened.
Full Serrano, making only his second United States start after winning a stakes in his native Argentina, shot to the early lead and valiantly attempted to steal the race. He comes from the barn of trainer John Sadler, who had won four of the last six Pacific Classics, including with the amazing Flightline in 2022. So Full Serrano, the fifth choice and a 2 1/4-length winner of his U.S. debut, wouldn't have been a complete surprise.
Mixto would, though, given that he was still eligible for a non-winners of two lifetime and was the second-longest shot of the eight-horse field at 22-1. He sat behind Full Serrano in second under Kyle Frey, who earlier on the card captured the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) with Gold Phoenix.
Dr. Venkman raced easily in third, theoretically located in a perfect position to pick up the pieces when Full Serrano and Mixto packed it in. But neither one did. They held their positions through both turns and into the stretch, when Mixto drew alongside Full Serrano and defeated that runner by a half-length in 2:02.10. Reincarnate passed Dr. Venkman to take third by two lengths.
"The original plan was for me to go to the front," said Frey. "But in the paddock I asked Doug, 'If somebody goes crazy in there, are you okay with me taking a hold?' He said sure so he was okay with Plan A and Plan B."
Plan B worked when Mixto "came running for me," said Frey, leading to the biggest day in the jockey's career.
Calumet Farm owns Mixto, having purchased him for $140,000 at the 2022 Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Though Mixto had only won one race, he finished second in the Dec. 26 San Antonio Stakes (G2) and third in the Jan. 27 San Pasqual Stakes (G2) and April 20 Californian Stakes (G3), all at Santa Anita Park. He had most recently run second to Lammas in the July 7 Pleasanton Mile Stakes.
Mixto earned a berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) through the Pacific Classic, which is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
O'Neill was winning his second Pacific Classic, following Lava Man in 2006.
Kip and Suzanne Knelman's Farfellow Farms bred Mixto in Kentucky from the Concerto mare Musical Mystery. The Knelmans live in Paris, Ky., and Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and an excited Kip was in the winner's circle after the Pacific Classic.
"My wife saw Musical Mystery running in a low claiming race a number of years ago at Gulfstream," Kip said in explaining how they came to breed Mixto. "The pedigree was impeccable. So we claimed her and we've been breeding her for a number of years."
Kip said that Suzanne also chooses the stallions, and they went to Good Magic to get Mixto. Kip said that they have a full brother in Book 3 of the upcoming Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Mixto and Pacific Classic third Reincarnate are by Good Magic, who is also the sire of this year's Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch , Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Muth , and Matt Winn Stakes (G3) winner Society Man. Champion 2-year-old male of 2017 and a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin , Good Magic stood for a 2024 stud fee of $125,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Paris, Ky.
Video: FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic S. (G1)
