Knightsbridge wins Pacific Classic as Saratoga racing heats up

Recent graded stakes racing in North America has seen significant results at Del Mar and Saratoga. At Del Mar, the 5-year-old Knightsbridge, a Godolphin homebred trained by Bill Mott, secured a dominant 6 ¼-length victory in the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes. This win marks his fourth graded stakes victory of the year and earns him a spot in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic in October.

At Saratoga Race Course, My Gun’s Loaded upset the heavily favored Counting Stars to win the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes. The 3-year-old filly, trained by Chad Brown, is now 3-for-3 this year.

Preparations are also underway for the 157th running of the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga. The race features a $1.25 million purse and a field of 10 horses, including Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes champion Golden Tempo and Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo. The field represents over $13 million in collective earnings.