$1,000,000 Pacific Classic Saturday at Del Mar

Champion mare Beholder headlines a competitive field of 10 to the gate in the $1 Million Pacific Classic at Del Mar this Saturday.

The competition runs deep in Del Mar’s signature race, with reigning Breeders’ Cup Classic Champion, Bayern, and Santa Anita Gold Cup winner, Hard Aces, among the top contenders in the field of older horses. Multiple graded stakes winners Hoppertunity and Catch a Flight make this a race you won’t want to miss.

You can get FREE BRISNET PPs for the full Pacific Classic card in the handicapping section of TwinSpires, just as long as you place a wager at Del Mar with your TwinSpires account this Saturday.

If you’re too busy to dig into the PPs, check out the Brisnet Daily Selections staff picks for the Pacific Classic below. 

 

9th DMR 1 1/4m Grade I 3yo and up, Purse: $1,000,000. 9:10/ 8:10/ 7:10/( 6:10)
$1 Exacta / $2 Quinella / $1 Trifecta / $2 Rolling Double / $1 Pick 3,$1 Superfecta (10-cent min.)
#   Horse ML   Comments
9   Beholder 5/2   TODAY’S BEST BETS! Dual champion will face the boys in this spot and we think she is all class and will get the job done second time on this dirt oval. Mandella trained daughter of Henny Hughes has won all three of her runs in 2015, including a most dominant performance in the Hirsch (G1) here most recently, and the connections have said she is as good as ever, which is darn good. Bay mare has great gate presence and a good post to be clear of trouble we would imagine, and regular pilot Gary Stevens will likely have her settle in second or third early before taking over in early stretch in her first run at 1 1/4 miles. 29% jockey/trainer combo of late, hard to overlook or try to beat this gem of a race horse.
8   Hoppertunity 5/1   Four-year-old colt from the Baffert barn was a nose second in the Gold Cup (G1) in his lone run at 10 furlongs and we think this is the trip the grinder could be best at. Son of Any Given Saturday earned a hefty 110 Late Pace figure in the San Diego (G2) here last time going shorter in what might have been something of a prep run for this one, with improvement more than possible. Kentucky-bred bay has a hint of tactical speed and expect him to be near midpack early before being sent down to wear down his foes. Martin Garcia rides.
5   Red Vine 6/1   Buzz horse ships out after finding his best form for sure since moving to the dirt in his last four, which include a trio of wins and a good second last time going a mile. Clement trainee now stretches out to 1 1/4 miles and has to be taken seriously in this one with Rosario also coming out to ride, for a trainer good with shippers and who knows where to place his runners. Recent bullet drill adds to the optimism.
7   Catch a Flight 9/2   Consistently good son of Giant’s Causeway has been very good for Mandella since importing and comes off a game tally in the San Diego (G1) last time over a few of these. Bay five-year-old has won or placed in all seven on U. S. soil, many against the better horses in the golden State, and he simply looks like a top three must use as he continues to fire time after time. Prat rides the classy one who is 10-for-17 lifetime.