Mixto © Benoit Photo
Calumet Farm’s Mixto, winner of only a maiden race in a 13-race career, forged to the front in deep stretch under jockey Kyle Frey to win the Grade I $1 million FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Saturday at Del Mar.
Sent post ward at 22-1 as the next longest longshot in a field of eight older horses, Mixto stalked pacesetting Full Serrano from shortly after the start of the mile and one-quarter contest, gamely responded to urging to forge to the lead in the final sixteenth and win by a half-length.
Full Serrano, well rated by jockey Reylu Gutierrez on the lead, held on gamely to be second, a half-length in front of Reincarnate, with Dr. Venkman, the even-money favorite a non-threatening fourth another two lengths back.
Mixto, a four-year-old chestnut colt trained by Doug O’Neill, accomplished the mile and one-quarter in 2:02.10. He won his first race, a maiden event, last fall. He was stakes-placed in four races subsequently.
Across the board, Mixto paid $46.40, $16.40 and $8.60 while earning $600,000. His previous bankroll was $182,180. He is a son of Good Magic bred in Kentucky.
The FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic is a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic which will be presented November 2 at Del Mar.
Earlier in the afternoon, Frey won the Del Mar Handicap astride Gold Phoenix.
KYLE FREY (Mixto, winner) -- "The original plan was for me to go to the front. But in the paddock I asked Doug (trainer O'Neill), I said if somebody goes crazy in there, are you OK with me taking a hold?' He said Sure.' So he was OK with Plan A and Plan B. He came running for me. So sweet. This is a tribute to the glory of God. This is the biggest day of racing in my career. No doubt."
DOUG O'NEILL (Mixto, winner) -- "We thought the five (Katonah) probably had the best chance of the two but as the race unfolded, Kyle had Mixto in the perfect spot and he just ran lights out. He gave us a few hints of being a special horse but today he really validated the horse he is. When you look at his PP's, he's run in a lot of different places and he's always been surrounding them and today it just unfolded perfectly and Kyle Frey just rode a perfect race."
FRACTIONS: :23.42 :46.95 1:11.62 1:36.29 2:02.10
The stakes win was the third of the meet for rider Frey, but his first in the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic. He now has five stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the second of the meet for trainer O'Neill, but his second (Lava Man, 2006) in the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic. He now has 48 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The winner is owned by Calumet Farm is owned by the Calumet Investment Group and is located in Lexington, KY.
