Journalism, Fierceness will run at Del Mar in Saturday’s Pacific Classic

DEL MAR — Saturday’s Pacific Classic is shaping up as just that — a classic.

Journalism and Fierceness were both officially committed Sunday to Del Mar’s premier race, giving the 34th edition of the Grade I classic three marquee entries. Impressive San Diego Handicap winner Nysos had already committed to the 11/4-mile race on the main track.

Primary owner Aron Wellman said Journalism’s Saturday morning workout at Del Mar was the final factor in the decision to run the 3-year-old son of Curlin against older horses for the first time. He announced the move  Sunday morning on KLAA radio’s “Thoroughbred Los Angeles” show.

“He’s looking for a fight, so we’re going to put him in the ring,” said Wellman. Journalism worked five furlongs in exactly one minute Saturday and came out of it in good shape, according to Wellman.

Journalism won the Preakness this year in the middle of book-end second-place finishes to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. In his most recent outing, Journalism won the Grade I Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park five weeks ago.

Wellman and trainer Michael McCarthy then brought Journalism back to the West Coast. After a period of rest, Journalism has had sharp workouts each of the last three Saturday mornings.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Fierceness, a 4-year-old son of City of Light, will ship to Del Mar on Wednesday and “gallop a couple days” before the Pacific Classic.

Fierceness comes west with hopes the Pacific Classic will be a stepping stone to the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, also at Del Mar.

Fierceness finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year following a win in the Travers at Saratoga. In his most recent Grade I outings at Saratoga, Fierceness finished second in the Metropolitan Handicap on June 7 and fifth in the Whitney on Aug. 2.

The Bob Baffert-trained Nysos, a 4-year-old son of Nyquist, has five wins in six career starts.

The decisions for Journalism and Fierceness expand the list of probables for the Pacific Classic to seven, including the John Sadler-trained Indispensible, who is following the same path used by stablemate Full Serrano last year. Full Serano finished second to longshot Mixto in the Pacific Classic after winning an entry-level allowance race earlier in the meeting, which Indispensible also did last month.

Other probables include the Baffert-trained Mirahmadi, Craig Dollase’s Midnight Mammoth and Peter Eurton’s Tarantino.

Sweet victory

As expected, Sweet Azteca easily won Sunday’s feature — the $100,000 Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap — as the 2-5 favorite in a field of four over 6½ furlongs.

What wasn’t expected was the fast, side-by-side battle down the backstretch with runner-up Formula Rossa.

“No, there was no problem with my horse running alongside (Formula Rossa) up the backstretch,” said Sweet Azteca jockey Juan Hernandez. “My horse was enjoying it. She likes a good fight. They were going fast, but Sweet Azteca was going easy. When we hit the quarter pole, I asked her to go and she was gone. She’s good.”

As Sweet Aztecs pulled away to a second straight Rancho Bernardo victory, Formula Rossa (Antonio Fresu) faded and trailed by 3½ lengths at the finish.

“I thought Formula Rossa and Fresu went a little too fast,” said Sweet Azteca trainer Richard Baltas. “Obviously, they had a plan to try to hook me. I think that was a big mistake. My filly was a lot bigger and stronger.

“We’re all trying to win. Formula Rossa is super talented. But there were no surprises.”

Notable

Jockey Mirco Demuro was off his two scheduled rides Sunday with “body soreness” after being thrown Saturday. Edwin Maldonado won with Lady Aberdeen ($14.40 in the fourth), a ride he picked up from Demuro.

• Reigning jockey champion Hernandez goes into the final two weeks of the summer meeting with a six-win lead (31-25) over Fresu in the standings. Hector Berrios is third with 22.

• Trainer Richard Baltas had two winners Sunday with Sweet Azteca and Will Happen ($6.60 in the fifth).