Hollywood Gold Cup winner
Awesome Gem and San Diego Handicap victor Dakota Phone worked Sunday morning
toward their prospective starts in Del
Mar's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic Presented by TVG.
The
1 1/4-mile race, Del
Mar's seasonal signature event, is set for Saturday, August 28.
Awesome
Gem, with regular rider David Flores up for the work, went 5 furlongs around
the dogs on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course in 1:04.40. Trainer Craig Dollase
said the 7-year-old who will be making his fourth start in the Pacific Classic
started off a little slow but finished up well. "I think he worked very
well," Dollase said. "He went over the course easily and David made
him work beyond the finish line."
Dollase
said the gelded son of Awesome Again will work next on Friday or Saturday and
will be back on the main track.
Dan
Ward, assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, said he was pleased with Dakota
Phone's 5-furlong work on the main track in 1:01.60. "He went very
well," Ward said. "Everything is going perfect right now for him.
We're right on target."
Exercise
rider Marco Ramirez handled Dakota Phone in the workout.