By Alan Carasso
In its quarter-century history, the GI TVG Pacific Classic has been responsible for its fair share of memorable and magical moments.
The legendary California-breds Best Pal (*Habitony) and Bertrando (Skywalker) helped put the race on the map with wins in 1991 (inaugural running) and 1993, respectively, while Dare and Go (Alydar) famously snapped Cigar (Palace Music)'s 16-race skein before a stunned crowd two decades ago. Juddmonte Farms claimed four Classic trophies in the space of seven years courtesy of back-to-back winners Tinners Way (Secretariat) and Skimming (Nureyev), while all-time Golden State greats like Lava Man (Slew City Slew) and Game On Dude (Awesome Again) have also left their mark. In 2014, the late Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) silenced many of his critics with an imperious success, only to be topped last year by Beholder (Henny Hughes), who gave trainer Richard Mandella a fourth Classic with a devastating and historic victory.
So, what does Del Mar conjure up for an encore?
As if an appearance by the race's defending champion weren't draw card enough, the Classic has attracted 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), who will try to join Pleasantly Perfect as standing winners of the G1 Dubai World Cup to double up at Del Mar; and 'TDN Rising Star' Dortmund (Big Brown), who gave California Chrome all he could handle in the GII San Diego H. July 23. Cont. p2
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California Chrome looks to continue what connections hope will be a second Horse of the Year title in three years, a season that could conclude with career earnings in the vicinity of $16 million, if all goes according to plan. Since settling for the $2-million second prize in the 2015 G1 Dubai World Cup, the flashy chestnut has not tasted defeat in four tries, a streak that includes a 3 3/4-length tally in the world's richest race this past Mar. 26 despite a mechancal malfunction. Given plenty of time to get his sea legs back under himself, so to speak, California Chrome stalked Dortmund every step of the way in the San Diego while giving his younger rival five pounds, but just when it looked like the race was in safe keeping, the bruising Dortmund–who's shown before that he loves a battle–fought on bravely, ultimately surrendering by a half-length. It's level weights Saturday, in theory tipping the scales further in the direction of California Chrome, but Victor Espinoza will have to try to work out a trip from the one hole.
“The No. 1 post is never good at any track but being a former jockey, I know that if he [Victor Espinoza] rides the right race, the No. 1 post isn't going to be a problem,” trainer Art Sherman said Wednesday. “It depends on how the early fractions are and then you just go from there. It's going to be a jockey's race. It's going to be a fan friendly race, I can tell you that.”
In many ways, Dortmund is the dark horse of of this year's handicap division. Winner of the GI Los Alamitos Futurity at two, the burly chestnut took the GI Santa Anita Derby and was third to American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Kentucky Derby, but was sidelined following an up-the-track effort in the GI Preakness S. In the San Diego, Dortmund was having his first start since besting Imperative (Bernardini) this track's GIII Native Diver S. last November, his 110 Beyer easily the best of his career. His trackwork since has been brilliant, supporting the notion that there could be another forward move in store.
Following Beholder's victory in the 2015 GI Clement L. Hirsch S., trainer Richard Mandella surprised many by saying the Pacific Classic was under consideration. And boy, did she make a smart trainer look that much smarter with an 8 1/4-length tour-de-force. Kept in training at six after being forced to miss a clash with the Triple Crown hero in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, the bay was far too tough for the competition in taking the first two starts of this season, but she was upset at a dime on the dollar by Stellar Wind (Curlin) in defense of the Hirsch July 30. She was green-lighted only for this race only in the last week and she'd need to do better from a numbers standpoint in a Pacific Classic for the ages. Her trainer isn't underestimating the task at hand.
“This is a world-class race shaping up,” Mandella said. “It's hard to imagine it getting any tougher. 'Chrome' is at the top of his game. Dortmund ran a great race against him and he's a very good horse. This is her toughest race ever.”
The winner earns an all-expenses paid trip to Santa Anita for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
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