In The Money Telegraph
Sunday, August 23, 2026 · By ITM Staff
Chalk Rules the West, the Favorite Falls in the East
A coast-to-coast Saturday delivered two very different endings. At Del Mar, the favorite did exactly what favorites are supposed to do. At Saratoga, the one they all feared came up short.
In the $1 million Pacific Classic, Bill Mott’s Knightsbridge withstood a fast, contested early pace and then simply drew off, winning by 6¼ lengths under Junior Alvarado in a shade over two minutes for the mile and a quarter. The Nyquist horse punched his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, with Original Sin second and Full Serrano third; Om N Joy, the first filly to contest the Pacific Classic in a decade, ran fourth. Mott, who watched by phone from Saratoga, and Alvarado both admitted afterward they’d briefly worried the early fractions were too quick — but as it turned out, neither had reason to. PTF’s longshot lean toward the Japanese invader Finger went unrewarded; this time, the chalk was simply the best horse.
Three time zones east, the 146th Alabama was supposed to be a coronation. Counting Stars, unbeaten at the Spa this summer and sent off at 1-3, needed only this to complete the Triple Tiara — and instead met a rising rival with perfect timing. Chad Brown’s My Gun’s Loaded, a $7-2 chance under Manny Franco, ran down the field to win by open lengths, with Measure second and the beaten favorite settling for third. It was a third Grade 1 winner of the year for the sire Gun Runner, and a reminder of why they run the race. Counting Stars’ bid for history will have to wait.
Around the Del Mar Stakes
The rest of the Del Mar graded slate went the home team’s way. Phil D’Amato won a fourth straight Green Flash, though not with three-time winner Motorious — this year it was stablemate Sorrento Sky sweeping home under Umberto Rispoli. And in the Del Mar Oaks, Tam Tam gave trainer Philip Bauer a first Grade 1, rallying to victory under Alvarado and providing sire Medaglia d’Oro with his 100th graded stakes winner in the process.
Sunday’s Cards
Monmouth. It’s New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival Day — nine races, all restricted to Garden State-breds, anchored by three state-bred handicaps: the $75,000 New Jersey Breeders’, the $100,000 Charles Hesse, and the $75,000 Eleven North. First post is 12:50 p.m. ET, and Eric Solomon calls it one of the better wagering days of the meet. Solomon’s card →
Del Mar. Dean Keppler makes Eltonsingsanother his best bet in Race 2, with a $3 Late Low-Takeout Pick 3 starting in Race 7. Keppler’s card →
ITM Plus
Travers Week Is Next
With Pacific Classic Day in the books, the summer’s biggest week is nearly here: Travers Day at Saratoga on August 29. ITM Plus members get the members’ bet share, Nick Tammaro’s daily Saratoga notebook, exclusive shows, and full coverage through Travers and on to the Breeders’ Cup.
More all week at inthemoneypodcast.com and on the ITM YouTube channel, with premium coverage on ITM Plus.
