Beholder draws the 9-hole for Saturday's TVG Pacific Classic
Saturday marks the pinnacle of the 2015 Del Mar summer meeting with the $1 million dollar TVG Pacific Classic headlining a strong 11-race card from beautiful Southern California. Last year’s rendition was a bit of a one-horse show with the dominating performance from Jungle Racing’s Shared Belief, but the 2015 version of the Classic is likely to be much more competitive. This year’s version not only features some of the nation’s most talented males, but also the classy Richard Mandella trained mare Beholder as she competes against the boys and travels a mile and a quarter for the first time in her illustrious 18-race career.
A field of ten drew for post-positions at 10:30 local time with the daughter of Henny Hughes pulling the 9-hole. The Spendthrift Farm runner was made the 5-2 favorite on Russell Hudak’s morning line. Beholder enters the Pacific Classic a winner of all three of her 2015 starts and four in a row dating back to September of 2014. At the draw, Mandella joked that he was less concerned with the post-position and more worried about a "male bias." Despite his early morning humor, the outside draw should give jockey Gary Stevens options when they break from the gate for the ten-furlong event.
The Hall of Fame conditioner also sends out the winner of the San Diego Handicap, Catch A Flight. The Argentinian-bred drew the 7-hole and is the second choice on the morning line at 9-2. The son of Giant's Causeway has won 3 of his last 4, but has managed just two third-place finishes in his two efforts at a mile and a quarter in the States. Flavien Prat will pick up the mount with regular rider Stevens opting to ride Beholder.
Despite Triple Crown winner American Pharoah opting to race elsewhere, trainer Bob Baffert still sends out two contenders in this year’s event. 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern looks to return to his three-year-old form after a disappointing third-place effort in the San Diego in July. The son of Offlee Wild pulled the 3-hole and will look to win his first race in 2015. The second Baffert entrant and runner-up in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, Hoppertunity will break from the 8-hole with jockey Martin Garcia in the saddle. The son of Any Given Saturday has just one victory in five starts in 2015, but has hit the board in four of them and should have little issue with the 10-furlong distance. Hoppertunity was made 5-1, while Bayern with new jockey Rafael Bejarano were made 6-1 on the morning line.
The winner of the 2015 Gold Cup, Hard Aces drew the 4-post for Hronis Racing and John Sadler and were listed as 5-1. Victor Espinoza will once again take the mount on the son of Hard Spun after an incredible ground saving ride last out. The winner of 6 in 23 lifetime starts will need another fast pace if he hopes to make it two in a row at the Grade I level. The depth of the field was improved with the voyage westward from Christophe Clement conditioned Red Vine. Coming off a second-place effort in the Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park, the son of Candy Ride will get the services of Joel Rosario. He was made 6-1 on the morning line.
2014 Charlestown Classic winner Imperative makes his first start off a four-month layoff for Richard Baltas and was made 12-1. Shipping in form the Midwest, the second of the two Sadler entrants, Class Leader drew the rail and was made 15-1. Bailoutbobby from the 2-hole and Midnight Storm from the outside, round out the field and are 20-1 on the line in what should be a day to remember "Where the Turf Meets the Surf."
I will have a full preview of the million-dollar event tomorrow morning on Horse Racing Nation. Stay with us in my continued coverage of the stakes action all summer at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.