For the third straight year, Gold Phoenix flew late to capture the Del Mar H. (G2) and book his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).

The Pacific Classic (G1) isn’t the only Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” at Del Mar on Saturday. Two of the four undercard stakes are also part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge program.

The Pacific Classic (G1) may have been the feature race on Saturday’s action-packed card at Del Mar, but the seaside oval hosted four other graded stakes for good measure.

In town to ride the sublime Flightline in the Pacific Classic (G1), Flavien Prat also turned a graded turf double aboard Gold Phoenix in the Del Mar H. (G2) and Hong Kong Harry in the Del Mar Mile (G2).

After a fine second in his stakes debut in the June 19 San Juan Capistrano (G3), Astronaut rocketed into the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) with a 24-1 upset of Saturday’s “Win and You’re In” Del Mar H. (G2)

United turned in one of the most surprising efforts at the Breeders' Cup last year, finishing only a head behind eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the 1 1/2-mile Turf (G1) at odds of 51-1. On Saturday, the 5-year-old rides a three-race win streak into the $200,000 Del Mar H. (G2), which offers the winner an expenses-paid berth into the 2020 Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November.