GIACOMO SHOULDN'T BE COUNTED OUT OF CLASSIC.Byline: KEVIN MODESTI Staff Writer Giacomo was widely considered a has-been as soon as he crossed the finish in the 2005 Kentucky Derby, labeled unlikely to ever match that historic victory, in which he benefited from a pacesetters' meltdown. In that mindset mind·set or mind-set n. 1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations. 2. An inclination or a habit. , it might be hard to think of Giacomo as the horse in Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar who has the best chance to get better. But, viewed in the abstract, isn't he exactly that? The eight-horse Pacific Classic's other contenders, 8-5 favorite Lava Man, 5-1 Magnum, 6-1 Perfect Drift and 8-1 Super Frolic Frolic - A Prolog system in Common Lisp. ftp://ftp.cs.utah.edu/pub/frolic.tar.Z. , are a 5-year-old making his 33rd start, a 5-year-old in his 19th start, a 7-year-old in his 40th start and a 6-year-old in his 37th start. Giacomo, 3-1 on the morning line, is a 4-year-old in his 14th start. Add these hopeful signs: Giacomo just ended a 4 1/2-month layoff -- and a four-race losing streak -- by edging Preachinatthebar in the San Diego Handicap The San Diego Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. The race carries a purse of 300,000. . He is reported to be training much better than before his disappointing efforts in the Strub (third) and Santa Anita Handicap The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the late winter at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses three years old and up, and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during (fifth). The picture is of a colt who could be ready to deny Lava Man an unprecedented sweep of the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup The Hollywood Gold Cup is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions. and Pacific Classic. ``We were really happy with his last race,'' trainer John Shirreffs said. ``He's been training well. One thing's for sure, we know he can do a mile and a quarter (the Derby distance).'' Shirreffs hopes the gray son of Holy Bull can earn his way to the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade 1 Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 years old and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles (2012 m) on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. at Churchill Downs. The Pacific Classic becomes a make-or-break test for Giacomo. Dick Jerardi wrote in the Daily Racing Form The Daily Racing Form, LLC (DRF) is a broadsheet newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race horses as a statistical service for bettors on horse racing in the United States. last month that Giacomo ``is a is a known quantity. You know what he can do, and you know what he can't do.'' But what if the kid can take it to another level? Fifteen months after the Derby, it's too soon to give up. heymodesti(AT_SIGN)aol.com (818) 713-3616 |
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