The GR I Pacific Classic

[TJ]

The best of the West square off in this renewal of the Pacific Classic. Here's the entries and the pp's.
9th Race.
$1 Million TVG Pacific Classic (Grade I)
One Mile And One Quarter FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD.

1 CALIFORNIA CHROME (L) '11 H 124 Espinoza, V California Chrome, LLC Sherman, Art
2 HOPPERTUNITY (L) '11 H 124 Prat, F Mike Pegram, Karl Watson or Paul Weitman Baffert, Bob
3 WAR STORY (L) '12 G 124 Mejias, R Loooch Racing Stables, Inc. or Glenn K. Ellis Greenman, Dean
4 HARD ACES (L) '10 H 124 Gonzalez, S Hronis Racing, LLC Sadler, John
5 WIN THE SPACE (L) '12 C 124 Talamo, J Kretz Racing, LLC Papaprodromou,George
6 IMPERATIVE (L) '10 G 124 Arroyo, Jr., N J K Racing, LLC Baltas, Richard
7 BEHOLDER (L) '10 M 119 Stevens, G Spendthrift Farm, LLC Mandella, Richard
8 DORTMUND (L) '12 C 124 Bejarano, R Kaleem Shah, Inc. Baffert, Bob
9 DALMORE (L) '13 C 118 Desormeaux, K Big Chief Racing, LLC, Rocker O Ranch, LLCor J. Keith Desormeaux
Desormeaux, Keith

Click on Dortmund: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatc ... ummary.htm

[Cree]

Beholder
California Chrome
Hard Aces

[Georgerz]

I'd say California Chrome, Beholder, Hoppertunity.

[geowarrior]

Beholder
California Chrome
Dortmund

[TJ]

California Chrome
Dortmund
Beholder
Dalmore

[TJ]

Great to see California Chrome come back to himself and look so impressive after returning from his Euro disaster in 2015. I give a lot of credit to Art Sherman and company for that. Art Sherman's win percentage doesn't rank him high up by today's standards....but that man is one heck of a horseman through and through, proven by the job he's done this year with CC.
It was sad to see Beholder beaten so badly, yet she was clearly 2nd best. She doesn't seem to be the same mare she was last season (good thing for CC), but Mandella will protect her and do what he feels is best for his champion mare.
Here's the replay. TJ
http://www1.drf.com/displayVideo.do?tra ... ountry=USA

[skeenan]

Well, could it be argued that Beholder wasn't beaten badly, as much as Chrome put in a brilliant performance?
I still love that mare, I'm not disappointed that she lost to Chrome. I would have been, had it been any of the other horses.