Motorious is not in the same Del Mar class as Gold Phoenix, a record-setting winner of six stakes at the seaside track, but the veteran gelding is doing his best to emulate his Phil D'Amato-trained stablemate there.
The 8-year-old turf sprinter has won three consecutive renewals of the Green Flash Handicap (G2T), with his first two coming outright in 2023-24 and last year upon the disqualification of Reef Runner for interference early in the race, which elevated Motorious from second to first. That triumph gave him the stakes record for most wins in the Green Flash.
Now, Motorious, owned by Anthony Fanticola, goes for a fourth straight Green Flash Aug. 22 when starting as the 124-pound highweight in the 5-furlong turf dash.
Winless in three starts since the 2025 renewal, Motorious should be in top condition after closing for second in an allowance optional claiming race July 19 at Del Mar. That race marked the first start of the year for the late-running millionaire son of Muhaarar.
Sumter, trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella for Perry and Ramona Bass, defeated runner-up Motorious by three-quarters of a length in that July 19 race and returns in the Green Flash, as does Sorrento Sky, who showed in that allowance optional claimer. D'Amato trains the latter for partners Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Marc Lantzman, and Michael Nentwig.
Up for grabs in Saturday's race beyond the $200,000 purse is a paid, automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. The Green Flash is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win in the You're In.
Each year since 2023, Motorious has gone into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint fresh after winning the Green Flash. He finished fifth in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, second in 2024, and fifth again last year.
Regular rider Antonio Fresu returns in the saddle Saturday.
Other Green Flash contenders include the California-bred standout Man O Rose, last out-winner Virat, and Kentucky shipper No Nay Hudson—fourth in the 2025 Green Flash and third in 2024.
The Green Flash is the earliest stakes race on Pacific Classic day as the fifth race with a 4 p.m. local time post.
Del Mar, Saturday, August 22, 2026, Race 5Entries: Green Flash H. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Monster (FL) Emisael Jaramillo 116 Jose Francisco D'Angelo - 2 Mescalero (KY) Kazushi Kimura 119 Richard E. Mandella - 3 Man O Rose (CA) Edwin A. Maldonado 121 Jeff Mullins - 4 Incanto (IRE) Tyler Baze 117 Peter Eurton - 5 Sumter (KY) Mike E. Smith 123 Richard E. Mandella - 6 Motorious (GB) Antonio Fresu 124 Philip D'Amato - 7 Virat (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 120 Dan Blacker - 8 No Nay Hudson (IRE) Juan J. Hernandez 123 Wesley A. Ward - 9 Sorrento Sky (IRE) Umberto Rispoli 120 Philip D'Amato - 10 Saratoga Special (IRE) Joel Rosario 114 Richard Baltas -
Cabo Spirit, El Potente Battle in Del Mar Mile
The final stakes race of the afternoon is the $300,000 Del Mar Mile Stakes (G2T), which follows the Pacific Classic and closes out 11 races.
There, front-running Cabo Spirit—who was nailed on the wire by Gold Phoenix in the July 26 Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar—cuts back a furlong in pursuit of his first win in what will be his fifth start this year. Last year, he won the San Gabriel Stakes (G3T) and American Stakes (G3T), both at Santa Anita Park. Locally, he took the La Jolla Handicap (G3T) as a 3-year-old in 2022 for owner Kretz Racing and trainer George Papaprodromou.
Hall of Famer Mike Smith climbs back aboard the 7-year-old Pioneerof the Nile gelding.
My Way Racing's dual graded stakes winner El Potente, out of action since a runner-up finish in the March 7 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita for trainer Dan Blacker, appears to be Cabo Spirit's leading foe. El Potente specializes in mile races on turf.
Current-year stakes winners Freedom's Not Free, Almendares, and King of Gosford, and Flyover add further depth to the lineup.
Del Mar, Saturday, August 22, 2026, Race 11Entries: Del Mar Mile S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Cabo Spirit (KY) Mike E. Smith 122 George Papaprodromou - 2 Seal Team (GB) Joel Rosario 122 Richard E. Mandella - 3 Artislas (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 122 Jeff Mullins - 4 Freedom's Not Free (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 122 Mark Glatt - 5 Detain (IRE) Juan J. Hernandez 122 Michael W. McCarthy - 6 Sinsel (BRZ) Kazushi Kimura 124 Richard E. Mandella - 7 Almendares (GB) Antonio Fresu 122 Philip D'Amato - 8 Astronomer (KY) Victor Espinoza 122 Simon Callaghan - 9 King of Gosford (GB) Umberto Rispoli 124 Philip D'Amato - 10 Flyover (CA) Armando Ayuso 122 John W. Sadler - 11 Twirling Point (KY) Ricardo Gonzalez 122 Blaine D. Wright - 12 El Potente (FL) Hector Isaac Berrios 122 Dan Blacker -
