DEL MAR, Calif. – There was no Plan B for Arabian Knight on Saturday at Del Mar. The lightly raced 3-year-old would either win the Grade 1 Pacific Classic in gate-to-wire fashion, or come up short because he could not stay the 1 1/4-mile trip. Arabian Knight stayed the trip. Under a flawless ride by Flavien Prat and expertly trained by Bob Baffert, Arabian Knight led gate to wire in the Pacific Classic, holding on by a neck over second favorite Geaux Rocket Ride as the 3-year-olds finished one-two in Del Mar’s biggest race. Slow Down Andy finished a 1 1/4 lengths back in third. It was a record seventh win for Baffert in the Pacific Classic, who said Arabian Knight “proved he was the horse we always thought he was." The trainer added a warning to future rivals of Arabian Knight. “He should move forward off of this.” :: Get Del Mar Clocker Reports straight from the morning workouts at the track. Available every race day.  Arabian Knight ($6.20 favorite) earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic by becoming the sixth 3-year-old to win the Pacific Classic, from 19 that tried. Owned by Amr Zedan, Arabian Knight became the first horse to win the Pacific Classic in just the fourth start of his career. Early this year, Arabian Knight ranked among the top 3-year-old prospects in the country, and was moved briefly to trainer Tim Yakteen in hopes of making the Kentucky Derby following a runaway win in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. But when the colt did not work well in spring at Santa Anita, the decision was made to give him a break. Arabian Knight returned with a creditable third-place finish in the Grade 1 Haskell on July 22 at Monmouth; the Pacific Classic was just his second start back. It was the second straight Pacific Classic win for Prat; the margin was closer than the 19 1/4-length romp last year when Prat rode Flightline. The running style of Arabian Knight is similar. Arabian Knight wins his races with speed. “He jumped out of there and got himself in a good spot,” Prat said. “He relaxed really well down the backside, and got the job done. Just really talented horse with a high cruising speed, and in control the whole race.” Baffert said he and Prat discussed how the race might unfold, and admitted “there was no Plan B.” Arabian Knight actually had a great trip, cruising through a soft opening quarter-mile in 23.55, the half in 46.60 while longshot Piroli applied token pressure. Arabian Knight shook off Piroli, and was challenged by Slow Down Andy after three-quarters in 1:11.42. Geaux Rocket Ride, who saved ground in third or fourth, angled outside for the drive, narrowed the gap late, and just missed. The final time of the race was slow, 2:03.19, over a surface that recently produced slow final times in routes. Mike Smith, who rode Geaux Rocket Ride in the Pacific Classic and in his victory over Arabian Knight in the Haskell, noted the colts “are both lightly raced, they both should get better.” Smith said Geaux Rocket Ride “ran too good to come up a loser” in the Pacific Classic. The Pacific Classic was only the fifth start of his career, and like Arabian Knight, his first against older. The result of the Pacific Classic validated the widely held opinion that the older male division in California is weaker than usual. Skinner, the only other 3-year-old in the Pacific Classic, finished fifth. Senor Buscador rallied from last to fourth, followed by Skinner. The sixth- through 10th-place finishers were Defunded, Piroli, Tripoli, and Order and Law. Stilleto Boy was eased. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.