HORSE RACING

• Pacific Classic win gives Gomez weekend sweep

  
  

  Del Mar, CA (Sports Network) - One day after winning the $1 million Travers at Saratoga, jockey Garrett Gomez completed a perfect weekend by taking Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar with Go Between. Gomez rode Colonel John to victory on Saturday in the "Mid-Summer Derby." By winning the 1 1/4 mile Pacific Classic, Go Between gains an automatic spot in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita as part of the "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge.

  Go Between, trained by Bill Mott, snapped a three race streak in which he finishedsecondin each start.

  After winning the Sunshine Millions Classic in January he was the runner-up in the Santa Anita Handicap, the Ben Ali and the Hollywood Gold Cup.

  Setting the pace in the 18th Pacific Classic was Barcola, the longest shot on the board at 43-1. Vying for second was Surf Cat and San Diego Handicap winner Well Armed.

  On the backstretch the 10 horse field was separated by about six-lengths with 5-2 favorite Go Between in the middle of the pack on the outside. Entering the far turn Barcola continued setting the pace with Surf Cat and Well Armed pressing the leader.

  Coming out of the final turn Well Armed, ridden by Aaron Gryder, took a short lead and was quickly joined by Go Between. The two horses battled down the stretch with Go Between prevailing by a neck over Well Armed.

  Finishing third was Hollywood Gold Cup winner Mast Track followed by Zappa, Student Council, Surf Cat, Awesome Gem, Mostacolli Mort, Delosvientos and Barcola.

  McCann's Mojave was withdrawn from the Pacific Classic on Sunday morning because of a slight injury that developed overnight.

  The time for the 1 1/4 miles 2:01.18 on the synthetic surface.

  Owned by Peter Vegso, Go Between adds $600,000 to his career earnings which now total $2,783,880. The five-year-old has won eight of 26 lifetime starts.

  Gomez recorded his third Pacific Classic victory. The veteran rider won back- to-back runnings with Skimming in 2000 and 2001.

  Go Between returned $7.60, $4.20 and $3.00. Well Armed paid $7.60 and $5.60, and Mast Track paid $5.80 to show.

  In other Breeders' Cup Challenge races at Del Mar, Whatsthescript, ridden by Gomez, won the Del Mile on the turf to guarantee a position in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Lewis Michael, in just his second start of the year, secured a spot in the Breeders' Cup Sprint by winning the Pat O'Brien Handicap.

  Dearest Trickski edged Tiz Elemental to take the Rancho Bernardo Handicap and get into the Filly & Mare Sprint.

  08/24 22:38:45 ET