DEL MAR, Calif. -- War Emblem didn't go to the lead, and he didn't get a victory in the $1 million Pacific Classic.

	Came Home (right) defeats Momentum in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner got rambunctious in the starting gate Sunday at Del Mar. When it sprang open, he wasn't ready.

Unable to take his favorite spot at the front of the pack, 3-year-old War Emblem wound up sixth in his first race against older horses.

Came Home, who was sixth to War Emblem in the Kentucky Derby, defeated Momentum by three-quarters of a length. The winner covered 1 1/4 miles in 2:01 4-5 and paid $23, $9.60 and $5.80 at 10-1 odds.

War Emblem's problems Sunday brought back memories of the Belmont Stakes in June, when he stumbled badly at the start and nearly tossed jockey Victor Espinoza. War Emblem finished eighth, spoiling his chance to become racing's first Triple Crown winner in 24 years.

Trainer Bob Baffert knew War Emblem was in trouble right away.

"I'm surprised he didn't stumble,'' Baffert said. "He's a free-running horse and I told Victor, `You have to have the lead. No matter what, put him on the lead.'''

Starter Gary Brinson said War Emblem was rearing up and pawing at the gate, causing workers to back him out. The colt was reloaded, but did the same thing, so he was taken out again.

War Emblem finally went into the gate last, after the 13 other horses were loaded.

"As soon as he was set, we took it (the break),'' Brinson said. "The way he was acting if he was in the gate much longer there was going to be a serious problem.''

Baffert said Brinson overcompensated.

"I understand the starter was trying to help, but I don't need that kind of help,'' he said. "That was one of the worst things, for the gate to open at that time when he was still walking. I kind of think he caught him up in the air.''

Espinoza settled War Emblem into third most of the way around the seaside track. The colt briefly put his head in front at the top of the stretch, but quickly got passed.

Espinoza said the back door to the starting gate wasn't closed on War Emblem when the front one opened.

"He wasn't ready to break and we came away a little too slow,'' he said. "I didn't want to rush him to try to make the lead.''

When War Emblem has gotten the lead in the past, he's won going away, in such races as the Illinois and Kentucky derbies and the Haskell Invitational earlier this month.

"No doubt I would have been on the lead if I had broken clean,'' Espinoza said. "Turning for home I felt he might go, but it wasn't there at the end.''

Momentum returned $5.80 and $3.80, while Milwaukee Brew was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.20 to show.

As 3-year-olds, Came Home and War Emblem each carried 117 pounds, getting a seven-pound weight break over their older rivals in the 14-horse field, the largest in the race's 12-year history.

After Came Home's sixth-place finish in the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby, few believed he could compete at the distance.

"They were saying the only way he could get a mile and a quarter was to get in a helicopter. We showed them today,'' trainer Paco Gonzalez said. "We got right behind War Emblem -- 4 feet behind him -- and Mike (Smith) gave him a perfect ride.''

Baffert said War Emblem came out of the race in good shape, but he was noncommittal about running the colt in the Breeders' Cup at Arlington Park in Chicago on Oct. 26.

Trainer Bobby Frankel, who has won the race six times in 12 runnings including the last two years, wound up third with Milwaukee Brew.

Bosque Redondo, Came Home's stablemate, broke sesamoid bones in his right front leg after crossing the finish line fifth. Jockey David Flores was tossed off, but he got up and walked away after nearly being hit by another horse.

Bosque Redondo was expected to undergo surgery on Monday or Tuesday, and veterinarians said the horse has a good chance of surviving.

Pleasantly Perfect was fourth.

Came Home's co-owners, Trudy McCaffery and John Toffan, also won the Classic in 1998 with Free House. The victory was worth $600,000.