DEL MAR, Calif. – A longshot colt whose only career win was a maiden victory by a narrow margin posted an improbable upset in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Saturday at Del Mar. Mixto ($46.40) parlayed a pace-pressing trip under jockey Kyle Frey to win the Pacific Classic by a half-length over Full Serrano as speed horses finished one-two in the richest race of a summer meet dominated by speed. Reincarnate ran third; even-money Dr. Venkman was fourth. Doug O’Neill, who trains Mixto for owner Calumet Farm, offered an appropriate assessment in a post-race interview. “I think long on the dirt, if you’ve got a little bit of speed, you always feel like you have a chance,” he said. “We knew he had a little bit of speed.” On paper, Mixto was hard to like. A 4-year-old by Good Magic, Mixto was 1 for 13 and moving up in class from a runner-up finish in the ungraded Pleasanton Mile in Northern California. But three in-the-money finishes in graded races during the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita gave O’Neill reason to take a swing at the Pacific Classic. :: DRF's Del Mar Handicapping Packages: Get everything you need to play the races with confidence. “He gave us a few hints of being a special horse, but today he really validated the horse he is,” O’Neill said. “Was it the toughest Pacific Classic ever? Probably not. But will there be some horses come from this and do some good things down the road? I think so.” Mixto earned a fees-paid berth for the Breeders’ Cup Classic for his Pacific Classic victory, in which he ran 1 1/14 miles in 2:02.10. The final time is likely to earn a Beyer Speed Figure in the high 90s. O’Neill’s initial thought is to train Mixto into the BC Classic, though the decision is not finalized. The upset by Mixto was the richest of his rider’s career. Frey was riding Mixto for the first time, and planned to take the initiative. “Honestly, I was intending to be in front, but when (Full Serrano) kicked away like that, I didn’t need to go speed-dueling with him.” Full Serrano, an import from Argentina who won his U.S. debut in an entry-level allowance, set the pace inside. The first half-mile of the Pacific Classic was 46.95, three-quarters in 1:11.62. But Mixto never let Full Serrano get away and always had him in his sights. Turning for home, Full Serrano briefly kicked away by 1 1/2 lengths, but Mixto eventually wore him down. Reincarnate finished a half-length back in third, two lengths in front of the favorite Dr. Venkman. The remaining order of finish was There Goes Harvard, None Above the Law, Katonah and Il Miracolo. The closers made no impact. Reincarnate was forwardly placed three-wide and salvaged third, while Dr. Venkman tucked into a ground-saving trip in fourth. The 1-2-3-4 finishers were positioned 2-1-4-3; none of the late runners made an impact. Dr. Venkman disappointed. Winner of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap last out in his first try around two turns, Dr. Venkman inherited Pacific Classic favoritism after the scratch of Adare Manor. For most of the race, Dr. Venkman and jockey Antonio Fresu saved ground right behind the speed. It looked like a perfect trip. “He jumped well, he was pretty relaxed,” Fresu said. But the distance caught up with him. “His first time going a mile and a quarter, it was just a little bit too far for him. In the stretch, (the leaders) moved a little bit in front of me, but I didn’t have horse.” Dr. Venkman altered course to the inside, but did not quicken. It was his first off-the-board finish from six career starts. The win was O’Neill’s second in the Pacific Classic; he won with Lava Man in 2006. Mixto’s $46.40 win payoff was the highest in the Pacific Classic since Richard’s Kid paid $50.80 in 2009. Mixto’s win payoff was the fifth-highest Pacific Classic payoff overall. And now he’s going to the BC Classic, an improving colt still eligible for a non-winners of two other than allowance. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.