Few horses with 2-for-16 career records have earned nearly $800,000. Meet Mixto, whose 22-1 upset last summer in the Pacific Classic (G1) came out of nowhere and was worth $600,000.

That day at Del Mar he out-finished Full Serrano, who pulled off a stunner of his own in his next start, a 15-1 score in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). So maybe the Pacific Classic wasn’t the fluke it appeared to be at the time. Trainer Doug O’Neill said he wasn’t that surprised.

“The horse was always knocking on the door,” O’Neill said. “Mixto had given us every indication he was ready to run.”

He flopped in his next race, plodding in 11^th in the BC Classic (G1), and was third in the Native Diver (G3).

“He probably got too involved early in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and was in a speed duel in his last start,” said O’Neill, who is upbeat about his longshot’s Pegasus chances.

“He’s a unique horse,” he told drf.com. “Frankie (Dettori) has worked him and is looking forward to riding him.”

Betting advice: Upset in second-rate Pacific Classic was a fluke for 2-for-16 horse. Doesn’t belong in this one. Toss.

Post position: 1

Odds: 10-1

Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Owner: Calumet Farm

Career record: 16-2-2-5

Career earnings: $794,180

Last race: Native Diver Stakes (G3), Nov. 23, 3^rd

Top Equibase speed figure: 108

Pedigree: Good Magic-Musical Mystery, by Concerto

Age: 5

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Notes: O’Neill, a 56-year-old Michigan native, has two Kentucky Derby wins – I’ll Have Another (2012) and Nyquist (2016). He’s won five Breeders’ Cup races and had five Eclipse Award winners … His most recent Grade 1 victory came with Raging Torrent Dec. 26 in the Malibu Stakes … O’Neill was on last year’s Racing Hall of Fame ballot but was not elected … Mixto breezed 5 furlongs in 1:02 Jan. 12 at Santa Anita.

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.