Can Giacomo Win the 2006 $1 Million pacific Classic?

2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and Preachinatthebar, the 1-2 finishers in Del Mar’s grade II San Diego Handicap, plus allowance winner Top This and That put in their final workouts Monday in preparation for Sunday’s grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic.

Across the country, Good Reward, a grass specialist for whom trainer Shug McGaughey is trying to establish main track form, finished his Pacific Classic preparations with a sharp five-furlong work on Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track in 1:01.43.

Giacomo posted a solid 1:12.20 six-furlong move under regular exercise rider Steve Willard. He was caught in 23.80 for the first quarter-mile, 48.20 for the half and 59.60 for five furlongs.

The nearly white Preachinatthebar sizzled six furlongs in a bullet 1:11 flat with Jon Court in the irons. The Bob Baffert trainee covered the first quarter in 23.80, the half in 47 flat, five furlongs in 58.40. A happy Baffert said, “He went nice and easy, just cruising around there. He has a nice, easy way of going.”

Trainer Dan Hendricks expressed enthusiasm for Top This and That’s half-mile work in :48 flat. “It was just what we wanted,” Hendricks said, adding, “He did it nice and even. Now we’ll enter up on Wednesday.” Regular exercise rider Luis Ortega was in the saddle for the drill.

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