Fields have been assembled for two of the most intriguing events of the summer–the GI TVG Pacific Classic S. and GI Alabama S.–to be run Saturday at Del Mar and Saratoga, respectively. California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), 2014's Horse of the Year and this year's G1 Dubai World Cup hero, will break from the rail in the Pacific Classic in his highly anticipated showdown with defending race winner and superstar mare Beholder (Henny Hughes) and MGISW 'TDN Rising Star' Dortmund (Big Brown), who stretched him to a half length in the GII San Diego H. July 23. “The number one post is never good at any track, but being a former jockey, I know that if [Victor Espinoza] rides the right race, the post isn't going to be a problem,” offered Art Sherman, trainer of California Chrome, who was installed the 8-5 morning line choice. “It depends on how the early fractions are and then you just go from there. It's going to be a jockey's race.”
Beholder, who took this race in jaw-dropping fashion by 8 1/4 lengths last year, is looking to bounce back from an upset second at 10 cents on the dollar to fellow champion Stellar Wind (Curlin) in the local GI Clement L. Hirsch S. July 30. She drew post seven in the field of nine and is 3-1 on the morning line. “I'm ecstatic,” Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, who chose to pilot Beholder over Dortmund, said of the draw. “First name out of the box, I hear Beholder, then I hear number seven and I'm like 'Yes!' It gives me a lot of options. I've drawn the number hole several times with Beholder and I said a little prayer before coming over here that we wouldn't draw the one hole and we didn't.”
Earlier in the day on the East Coast, California-based 'Rising Star' Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) will put her flawless nine-for-nine record on the line while trying 10 panels for the first time in the GI Alabama S. Last year's champion juvenile filly, who bested Grade I-winning fellow 'Rising Star' Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) by 5 1/2 lengths in this venue's GI Coaching Club American Oaks July 24, faces the likes of GIII Delaware Oaks heroine Dark Nile (Pioneerof the Nile); GI Ashland S. heroine Weep No More (Mineshaft); GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and GII Black-Eyed Susan S. winner Go Maggie Go (Ghostzapper); and GII Indiana Oaks winner Family Tree (Smart Strike).
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