There's a plethora of terrific Labor Day weekend horse races, chief among them the Pacific Classic and the Nashville Derby.
The former is Del Mar's signature race and is a "Win & You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Classic, which will also be held at the San Diego oval later this year.
Also figuring to impact the Breeders’ Cup odds on Saturday, August 30, is the $3.5 million Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs.
Read on for my free betting picks for each heat.
Pacific Classic odds, prediction and best bet
- Race: Del Mar Race 10
- Post time: 9:11 p.m. ET
- TV: FanDuel TV
| Post | Horse | Track odds |  |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fierceness | 3-1 | +300 | +450 |
| 2 | Midnight Mammoth | 12-1 | +1200 | +2000 |
| 3 | Ultimate Gamble | 20-1 | +2000 | +3300 |
| 4 | Nysos | 8-5 | +160 | +162 |
| 5 | Indispensable | 15-1 | +1500 | +5000 |
| 6 | Journalism | 9-5 | +180 | +120 |
| 7 | Lure Him In | 20-1 | +2000 | +6600 |
| 8 | Tarantino | 20-1 | +2000 | +3300 |
Odds as of 8-30.
I think it's a fool's errand to try and beat morning-line favorite No. 4 Nysos (8-5) and possible post-time favorite No. 6 Journalism (9-5) in the Pacific Classic.
Fierceness brings a credible resume to the table, but his last two races do not inspire confidence. The rest of the runners simply appear overmatched.
But for runaway Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Sovereignty, Journalism would be undefeated from six starts in 2025 with a Triple Crown under his belt — impressive stuff. He didn't have the cleanest of trips in his last two wins in the Preakness and the Haskell, but he still proved best each time.
Journalism already boasts a win over this course and is the one to beat, assuming he finds smooth sailing under Umberto Rispoli.
Nysos could give trainer Bob Baffert his record eighth career Pacific Classic win with Flavien Prat in the irons.
He was last seen acing the San Diego Handicap, the local prep for this race, boosting his lifetime record to a sparkling 6: 5-1-0. The speed figures say he's capable, but he's yet to go past 1 1/16th-miles, while we already know Journalism can handle the 10-furlong voyage.
Best bet: $20 exacta 6/4, $5 exacta 4/6 ($25)
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Nashville Derby odds, prediction and best bet
- Race: Kentucky Downs Race 10
- Post time: 5:46 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
| Post | Horse | Track odds | |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hill Road | 6-1 | +600 | +700 |
| 2 | Test Score | 4-1 | +400 | +400 |
| 3 | King of Ashes | 30-1 | +3000 | +3300 |
| 4 | Tomasello | 20-1 | +2000 | +2500 |
| 5 | Burnham Square | 6-1 | +600 | +1000 |
| 6 | Simulate | 10-1 | +1000 | +1000 |
| 7 | Tiztastic | 20-1 | +2000 | +2000 |
| 8 | Sandman | 5-1 | +500 | +800 |
| 9 | Noble Confessor | 20-1 | +2000 | +1600 |
| 10 | Maximum Promise | 30-1 | +3000 | +2500 |
| 11 | Final Gambit | 8-1 | +800 | +800 |
| 12 | Wimbledon Hawkeye | 7-2 | +350 | +225 |
| 13 - AE | Iron Hand | 8-1 | +800 | +2000 |
| 14 - AE | Native Runner | 12-1 | +1200 | +2000 |
Odds as of 8-30.
Considering this is the second-richest race in North America behind only the Breeders' Cup Classic, the $3.5 million Nashville Derby field is very light on turf accomplishments. That's part of the reason why British raider Wimbledon Hawkeye is the 7-2 favorite despite a 6: 0-3-1 record on the season.
While I respect that runner's form enough to throw him into an exacta box, my top pick will be No. 1 Hill Road as I seek a little betting value at 6-1.
He began his career on turf overseas, graduating from the maiden ranks before misfiring in a Group II. The Chad Brown trainee hasn't been able to hang with the likes of Sovereignty and Journalism on dirt this year, but a recent bullet workout on the lawn suggests he'll like the surface switch under Tyler Gaffalione.
No. 2 Test Score (4-1) is the class of the field with a Grade III and Grade I turf win under his belt in 2025. He was also second in the Grade I American Turf and third in the Grade I Saratoga Derby when last seen, beaten all of a half-length in the latter. Regular rider Manny Franco makes the trip here.
Best bet: $3 exacta box 1/2/12, $7 win 1 ($25)
Road to the Breeders’ Cup Classic
| Race | Date | Track | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Cup* | February 22 | King Abdulaziz Racetrack | Forever Young |
| February Stakes* | February 23 | Tokyo | Costa Nova |
| Dubai World Cup* | April 5 | Meydan | Hit Show |
| Kentucky Derby | May 3 | Churchill Downs | Sovereignty |
| Preakness Stakes | May 17 | Pimlico | Journalism |
| Belmont Stakes | June 7 | Saratoga | Sovereignty |
| Metropolitan Handicap | June 7 | Saratoga | Raging Torrent |
| Stephen Foster Stakes* | June 28 | Churchill Downs | Mindframe |
| Haskell Stakes* | July 19 | Monmouth Park | Journalism |
| Whitney Stakes* | August 2 | Saratoga | Sierra Leone |
| Juddmonte International Stakes (turf)* | August 20 | York | Ombudsman |
| Travers Stakes | August 23 | Saratoga | Sovereignty |
| Pacific Classic* | August 30 | Del Mar | TBD |
| Jockey Club Gold Cup* | August 31 | Saratoga | TBD |
| Pennsylvania Derby | September 20 | Parx | TBD |
| Goodwood Stakes* | September 27 | Santa Anita Park | TBD |
| Lukas Classic | September 27 | Churchill Downs | TBD |
*denotes "Win & You're In" race for Breeders' Cup Classic.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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