Richard’s Kid shocks in Pacific Classic

The betting public never saw Richard’s Kid coming (Benoit Photo) Arnold Zetcher’s RICHARD’S KID (Lemon Drop Kid) ran in the rear of Sunday’s $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, came five wide into the stretch and rallied late to catch Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck) by a neck on the wire. With jockey Mike Smith in the saddle, the Bob Baffert trainee was sent off as a 24-1 longshot and returned $50.80, $22.20 and $12.40 to his few, but faithful, supporters. Tres Borrachos (Ecton Park) scurried to the front when the gates opened and proceeded to lead the way over the Polytrack through splits of :23, :47 2/5, 1:12 2/5 and 1:37 1/5. Misremembered (Candy Ride [Arg]) and Mast Track (Mizzen Mast) were battling it out for second just in behind, and farther back a tracking Einstein was content to stalk the pace in fourth. All the while, Richard’s Kid and Smith were running just off the rail near the back of the 12-horse field. Tres Borrachos, Misremembered and Mast Track were all leg weary by the time they hit the stretch and the rest of the field soon overwhelmed the trio. Einstein, however, was keeping his momentum going and grabbed a head advantage in the stretch run. Richard’s Kid had begun his move leaving the turn, coming five wide into the stretch, and was ranging up to the outside of the near-black star. Despite Smith losing the whip a sixteenth out, the four-year-old managed to collar Einstein in the final yards and stopped the clock in 2:02 1/5 for 1 1/4 miles.

Multiple Grade 1 king Einstein was game in defeat, giving back $6.40 and
$4.80 as the 4-1 third choice, while last-out Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) hero Rail
Trip (Jump Start) paid $3.80 as the 5-2 favorite another three parts of a length
back. The $1 exotics were worth $211.20 (exacta), $1,108 (trifecta) and $8,619.50
(4-10-3-11 superfecta).

Parading (Pulpit), winner of the Dixie S. (G2) and Ben Ali S. (G3) earlier
this year, was three-quarters of a length behind in fourth, and completing the
order under the wire were Colonel John (Tiznow), Song of Navarone (Sultry Song),
Awesome Gem (Awesome Again), Global Hunter (Arg) (Jade Hunter), Informed (Tiznow),
Misremembered, Tres Borrachos and Mast Track.

Richard’s Kid earned his first stakes win earlier this year, taking the John
B. Campbell H. at Laurel Park by one length over eventual Whitney H. (G1) hero
Bullsbay (Tiznow). He was sixth next out in the New Orleans H. (G2) and made his
last start under the tutelage of trainer Richard Small when fourth in the May 16
William Donald Schaefer S. (G3). The dark bay reappeared in Baffert’s shedrow at
Del Mar in July, finishing seventh in the Eddie Read H. (G1), then gave a hint
of what was to come when just missing by a nose in the Cougar II H. while going
1 1/2 miles last out. With the Pacific Classic now on his
19-6-2-4 record, his earnings stand at $759,370.

Bred in Maryland by Fitzhugh LLC, Richard’s Kid is out of Tough Broad (Broad
Brush), who during her career captured six stakes and placed in seven others,
including the 1996 Noble Damsel H. (G3). He is the first stakes winner for his
dam, who is a full sister to 1997 Kent S. third Broad Choice. Other stakes
scorers in the family include 1971 Derby Trial victor Vegas Vic (T. V. Lark),
who placed in such events as the Washington Park H. (G3), Oak Tree Invitational,
Santa Anita Derby; Unky and Ally (Heff), queen of the 1997 Sorority S. (G3); and
multiple Calder stakes winner Kid Colin (Baldski).