Breeders' Cup Big Bet Battle Royale - Pacific Classic Selections

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In order to qualify final round Battle Royale on October 3-4, TwinSpires Players need to cash a winning $15 wager on three of the designated Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races during one of the first two qualifying rounds (August 1-31 and September 1-30). Please see the contest rules for further details.

The Editorial team at brisnet.com is getting involved in the fun, providing selections for the remaining contest races. Here are their thoughts on Saturday’s Pacific Classic:

James Scully: Richard Mandella wouldn’t be running BEHOLDER (#9) if he wasn’t confident - the Hall of Fame trainer already has a top contender in Catch a Flight, who has won three graded stakes in his last four starts – and we can count on Beholder showing up with her best. The 5yo mare drew well on the outside, allowing Gary Stevens to settle in a good spot just off the speedy Bayern, and she’ll make her move on the far turn. Ten furlongs is the only question, but I expect to see Beholder simply outclass these foes. $15 to win on #9.

Kellie Reilly: It's easy to root for Beholder, but a bettor's got to have at least a scruple about her at the trip. BAYERN (#3) obviously has huge questions to answer after looking a pale shadow of himself this year, but there are a couple of slender strands of hope going into this race. After his abysmal first two starts, he might have turned the corner when salvaging third in the San Diego (G2). He came right back to fire a bullet six furlongs in 1:11.60, followed by two more stiff drills over the track. And Hall of Famer Bob Baffert makes the rider switch to Rafael Bejarano as a potentially galvanizing factor. Bayern's made a career of rebounding off flops, and he can get brave if controlling proceedings early. If Bayern's rounding into form -- and admittedly, that's a big "if" -- 6-1 would be a square price on the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner. $15 to win on #3.

Vance Hanson: You can interpret Beholder's presence here as perhaps a knock against her stablemate CATCH A FLIGHT (#7), but the Argentinean has more or less ascended to the top (albeit through attrition) of the older male ranks in Southern California. By no means does he like to win comfortably -- his Precisionist (G3), Californian (G2), and San Diego H. (G2) scores were all narrowly done -- yet win he did. Jockey Gary Stevens arguably moved too soon with him in the Gold Cup (G1), yet learned a lesson that paid off in the vastly shorter San Diego last time. Good enough to finish a solid third in the Santa Anita H. (G1) behind Shared Belief and Moreno in just his third U.S. start, he's improved enough since then to give him the nod here. $15 to win on #7.

Ed DeRosa: RED VINE (#5) is the only entrant of 10 with triple digit Brisnet.com Speed Ratings in each of his last four (actually five) starts, and only favored Beholder has strung together consecutive 100+ outings this year. I’ll take the longer price of that duo in this spot, especially figuring Red Vine to get a good midpack trip behind front-running types such as Beholder and Bayern but ahead of other contenders like Hoppertunity. $15 to win on #5.