Will Beholder Keep her Pacific Classic Crown?
- Laura Pugh
- Aug 19, 2016
- 2 min read
Photo Credit: Gary Tasich
In her best form Beholder has proven the ability to not just win against males, but decimate them. She did so in the 2015 Pacific Classic when she won by over eight lengths in a stellar final time of 1:59.77.
This year she will try to do the same when defending her Pacific Classic crown against the likes of California Chrome and Dortmund. California Chrome is the 2014 Horse of the Year and this year’s Dubai World Cup Champion. He also won the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before finishing third in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).
Dortmund won his first eight career starts, including the Santa Anita Derby (GI), before finishing third in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness Stakes. Dortmund’s only defeat in his home state of California came in his last start, the San Diego Handicap (GII), at the hands of California Chrome by half a length.
While Beholder won the 2015 Pacific Classic quite handily the horses that she defeated did not approach the caliber of the two named above. This brings an element of unknown to her ability to win this year’s Pacific Classic, especially when her form hasn’t been nearly as dominant as the form she carried into the race last year.
In 2015 Beholder entered the Pacific Classic off an unblemished season. Prior to the Pacific Classic, Beholder embarrassed the Clement L. Hirsch field by seven lengths. That race served as her prep for the Pacific Classic. This year Beholder comes into the race off a loss in the very same race she prepped in last year. The performance was even enough to cause trainer Richard Mandella to pause and reevaluate the mare’s status for the Pacific Classic.
After a bullet work two weeks prior to the race, Mandell announced that Beholder would enter the Pacific Classic, but his words of endorsement still raise questions pertaining to his confidence.
“I looked for a week to find a reason not to run in this race because it is a hell of an undertaking,” Said Mandella.
Mandella did go on to say that he found no reason to keep Beholder out of the race, but why look for a reason not to enter if your faith in her ability to win is unwavering? Does he question her form, or was it just a case of the pre-commitment jitters?
Beholder is six years old, so it would be understandable to wonder if she hasn’t lost a little bit of her edge. After all, racing at the level she’s been running at since she was a juvenile is bound to take a toll. So, the question remains, has Beholder lost a bit of form? Is she ready to take on the likes of California Chrome and Dortmund?
Tomorrow we will find out. Tomorrow we will see if Beholder can take her game to a new level. Tomorrow all questions will be answered.
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