Student Council upsets Lava Man in Pacific Classic

Student Council, a 23-1 long shot making his first trip to the West Coast, stunned defending champion Lava Man and won the $1 million Pacific Classic by a half-length Sunday at Del Mar, Calif.

Sent off as the even-money favorite, Lava Man faded to sixth in front of 34,000, the largest crowd since 2002 and third-largest in the race’s 17-year history.

Ridden by Richard Migliore, Student Council covered 1 1/4 miles in 2:07.29 and paid $48.80, $31.80 and $20.60. His time was the slowest in race history, although the Classic was being run on the new synthetic Polytrack surface for the first time.

Lava Man’s time of 2:01.62 last year was the previous slowest.

Awesome Gem returned $12.40 and $8.20, while Hello Sunday was another four lengths back in third and paid $9.40 to show.

Arson Squad was fourth and Big Booster fifth in the field of 12.

Student Council earned an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Oct. 27 at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park as part of the new selection process for horse racing’s richest day.

He’ll be in stellar company that day. The Pacific Classic was Student Council’s first time running 1 1/4 miles and his first Grade 1 race.

Lava Man was seeking a sweep of Southern California’s three major races for older horses for a second straight year. He’d already won the Hollywood Gold Cup and Santa Anita Handicap this year.

But the richest claiming horse in thoroughbred racing history with more than $5 million in earnings couldn’t get it done.

Longacres Mile

In Auburn, Washington, The Great Face held off Raise the Bluff to win the $400,000 Longacres Mile, Emerald Down’s signature race.

The Great Face paid $13.40, $7.20 and $5.60 while Raise the Bluff paid $4.20 and$3.20. Wasserman paid $8.40 as third choice. Race time was 1:35.40.

Alabama Stakes

Lady Joanne fought off Octave and Lear’s Princess in a tough stretch run to win Saturday’s $500,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, N.Y., Race Course.

Ridden by Calvin Borel and trained by Carl Nafzger, Lady Joanne held off the closing Lear’s Princess and a late run from Octave, who could not get up in time on the rail.

Lady Joanne paid $11, $5.30, and $3.20 to win, while Lear’s Princess and Eibar Coa brought $5.30 and $3 to place and Octave returned $2.60 to show under John Velazquez.