Field Set for 2016 Pacific Classic
- Laura Pugh
- Aug 17, 2016
- 2 min read
Year after year the Pacific Classic draws some of the very best talent in the country and 2016 is no exception.
This year Del Mar’s feature race drew a sizeable field of nine including five grade one winners. Among those grade one winners are 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome, 2015 Pacific (GI) Classic Heroine Beholder, and 2015 Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Dortmund.
All three have been working well for the highly anticipated showdown giving each of their connections plenty of confidence coming into the race.
California Chrome and Dortmund were last seen in the July 23rd San Diego Handicap (GII). Since that race Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert feels that race has set Dortmund for a big effort in the Pacific Classic.
“He’s been training well,” Baffert said. “He’s sitting on a big performance (for the Pacific Classic).”
In the San Diego Handicap Dortmund broke from the inside post while California Chrome came away from the six hole. For the Pacific Classic the roles are reversed, with California Chrome breaking from the one post and Dortmund from the eight. Breaking from the outside should be an asset for Dortmund as it will provide him with plenty of time and space for him to maneuver himself into a comfortable position.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for California Chrome’s position. Earlier in his career he displayed plenty of contempt for racing along the inside. He used to get too agitated to relax and allow regular rider Victor Espinoza to maneuver him out of traffic. However, Espinoza has noted that California has mellowed with age and is much quicker to relax.
Beholder, the third and final part of this terrific trio, will attempt to defend her Pacific Classic crown off of a loss in the Clement L. Hirsch (GI) to Stellar Wind. Trainer Richard Mandell did waver whether or not to enter his charge, but she convinced him of her readiness in her Aug 10th work where she fired 59 and change bullet for the five-furlong distance.
Beholder drew post seven, just to the inside of Dortmund, which should allow her the ability to settle comfortably in her preferred stalking position.
It would seem that all systems are currently a go for the top three. If so, the Pacific Classic could go down as not just the race of the year, but the race of the decade or better.
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