Betting the Pacific Classic on a Budget

Bayern looks to be rounding into top form in time for Saturday's Pacific Classic at Del Mar. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Beholder will try to make history in the 25th running of the Grade I $1-million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes this Saturday at Del Mar as she tries to become the first female horse to win this event.
Beholder has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in a field that includes multiple stakes-winning stablemate Catch a Flight and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern among the group of 10 runners that will line up at the starting gate. She brings a stellar record of 13 wins from 18 starts and has a hall of fame team on her side with trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Gary Stevens.
Although she has a terrific record and tremendous amount of talent on her side, she lacks experience at the 1 ¼-mile distance and has never raced against males. She deserves to be the morning line favorite based on her current form but this field of males will make her earn the victory.
Let’s take a look at the runners.
#1 Class Leader will be making his first start under new trainer John Sadler and his first start in California. He was last seen finishing third in a stakes at Indiana Downs and I feel like he will need to run the race of his life to hit the board.
#2 Bailoutbobby ran a very good second in the Cougar II Handicap when gaining ground late to miss by about half a length. This shorter distance and tougher competition appears to be too much for him.
#3 Bayern looks to be getting back into shape and his latest third-place finish in the San Diego Handicap was a big improvement over his two previous outings this year. He has a good workout pattern since his last race and I feel he is ready to fire a big effort.
#4 Hard Aces is a Grade I winner at this distance and has already beaten fellow rivals Hoppertunity and Catch a Flight. He’s going to need a total pace collapse to get a piece of the pie but I don’t think he’s going to get that scenario.
#5 Red Vine is an interesting shipper from the Christophe Clement stable that has improved since switching to the dirt. He’s got a good tracking style that I think will fit well in this race. I would use him in superfectas.
#6 Imperative has a good set of stamina-building workouts leading up to this race and his new trainer has been doing well at the meet. I think he will be sitting in a good position towards the middle of the pack. I will use him in the trifecta.
#7 Catch a Flight had a great trip last time out and managed to win by a head in a race that I thought he should have won easily given the set up. This distance does not appear to be his preferred route of ground.
#8 Hoppertunity has a grinding style that I think fits well at this distance. He ran a terrific race two starts ago when he went wide into the stretch while fellow rival Hard Aces cut through the inside to prevail by a nose in the Grade I Gold Cup at Santa Anita. I think he has a big chance to finish in the top three.
#9 Beholder is a classy mare that has terrific tactical speed that allows her to control the pace or sit a great tracking trip. Her win in the Clement Hirsch was a great prep for this race and I don’t see her finishing worse than second.
#10 Midnight Storm is a big speed threat when he’s on his best game and I think he’s ready to fire a big effort. I imagine he will be in a great spot either pressing Bayern or tracking him on the outside. He’s one of the runners that I consider top contenders to win.
Trifecta plays keying Beholder in first and second:
$1 Trifecta: 9 with 3,6,8,10 with 3,6,8,10
$1 Trifecta: 3,6,8,10 with 9 with 3,6,8,10
Total bets: $24
$1-million TVG Pacific Classic StakesDel Mar, Saturday, Race 9, 9:10 p.m. ET1 ¼ miles, dirt, 3-year-olds and older

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Owner

Odds

1

Class Leader

Mike Smith

John Sadler

Lane's End Racing

15-1

2

Bailoutbobby

James Graham

Doug O'Neill

Calara Farms, Great Friends Stable, K. Jewgieniew, S. Keh and R3 Racing

20-1

3

Bayern

Rafael Bejarano

Bob Baffert

Kaleem Shah

6-1

4

Hard Aces

Victor Espinoza

John Sadler

Hronis Racing

5-1

5

Red Vine

Joel Rosario

Christophe Clement

Jon and Sarah Kelly

6-1

6

Imperative

Corey Nakatani

Richard Baltas

KM Racing Enterprise

12-1

7

Catch a Flight

Flavien Prat

Richard Mandella

Haras Santa Maria de Araras

9-2

8

Hoppertunity

Martin Garcia

Bob Baffert

Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman

5-1

9

Beholder

Gary Stevens

Richard Mandella

Spendthrift Farm

5-2

10

Midnight Storm

Tyler Baze

Philip D'Amato

Dye, Marjorie Post, A Venneri Racing Inc. and Little Red Feather Racing

20-1