The $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) is always an exciting race, but the 2025 edition has gained a little extra spice as Journalism, one of the nation's top 3-year-olds, and Fierceness, one of the East Coast's top older horses, are set to challenge Baoma Corp.'s West Coast star Nysos.
Journalism's entry in the 1 1/4-mile race was confirmed Aug. 24 in a post on X shared by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, who co-own the 3-year-old son of Curlin with Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism recorded his final work for the race at Del Mar Aug. 23 while breezing five furlongs in 1:00 under regular jockey Umberto Rispoli.
"Journalism has emerged from yesterday's workout in exceptional shape and seems to be looking for a fight," the Sunday post read. "He's all set and been given the green light."
The race will be the Preakness (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner's first start against older horses, and one of the potentially more surprising entrants of those he will face appears to be Repole Stable's Fierceness.
Fierceness All But Confirmed for Pacific Classic
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher all but confirmed Sunday morning that Fierceness would be headed to Del Mar on an Aug. 27 flight following the workout of his stablemate, dual grade 1 winner Mindframe. With both horses owned by Mike Repole, the team would prefer to split them up and take a shot at two grade 1s rather than running both in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course.
Pletcher did say that should anything go wrong with the health of Mindframe following his Sunday workout, Fierceness would remain in New York. Otherwise, he's on his way to the California sun.
"I'd say there is a good chance he is," Pletcher said about the colt's Pacific Classic status. "Mindframe breezed very well this morning. Assuming everything is in order tomorrow, the plan would be to split them up."
Fierceness is aiming to bounce back from a fifth-place finish in the Aug. 5 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Pletcher said he thought the colt had a rough trip when longshot Contrary Thinking rushed past him on the outside around the clubhouse turn in an effort to get to the lead.
"He got hung out a little wide in the first turn, got buzzed by the pacemaker (Contrary Thinking) on his outside, made him a little bit headstrong down the backside," Pletcher said. "He kind of flattened out a little bit, but all in all, wasn't beaten too far (5 3/4 lengths by Sierra Leone). I think the way he's been training, it gives the impression he's sitting on a good one now."
Other options for Fierceness' final Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) prep included the Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs and the Woodward Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack Sept. 27, but Pletcher said he preferred the timing of this weekend's races being nine weeks out from the $7 million race at Del Mar Nov. 1.
Fierceness has performed well in two trips to California, winning the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park en route to being named champion 2-year-old, and finishing second in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.
"He's shipping a long way and taking on some nice horses, but you're going to have to run against nice horses wherever you go," Pletcher said.
