Just because American Pharoah didn't end up coming to Del Mar this weekend doesn't mean that the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes is any less notable of a race. Beholder is one of the many top flight colts and mares ready to take to the track with a huge payoff with a near-guaranteed spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic on the line.
ODDS ANALYSIS
1: Class Leader ( 15/1 )
2: Bailoutbobby ( 20/1 )
3: Bayern ( 6/1 )
4: Hard Aces ( 5/1 )
5: Red Vine ( 6/1 )
6: Imperative ( 12/1 )
7: Catch A Flight ( 9/2 )
8: Hoppertunity ( 5/1 )
9: Beholder ( 5/2 )
10: Midnight Storm ( 20/1 )
Bayern has the best speed at this 1 1/4 mile distance of any of the horses in this field, and he's the sixth choice on the board at 6 to 1. That tells you all that you need to know about the quality of the Pacific Classic, even with American Pharoah running in next week's Travers Stakes instead.
Super mare Beholder will likely go off as the favorite in this one, as he was installed as 5 to 2 morning line favorite. Hoppertunity and Hard Aces are popular choices at 5 to 1, while Catch A Flight is in actually the second favorite in this race at 9 to 2.
FAVORITE TO FOLLOW
Beholder might be the best horse in the world right now. However, we just don't know how she is going to run when put up against the boys. With over $3.5 million in career earnings, Beholder is one of the richest horses in the world, and she has won each of her last four starts, all of which came as insane odds-on favorites.
UNDERDOG TO WATCH
Imperative is an interesting pony to keep an eye on in this one. He ran third in the Pacific Classic last year, but he was a 38 to 1 longshot that day. Shared Belief hit the line first, but still, the 106 Beyer Speed Rating was about as good as it gets at this distance for any of these horses.
The last time Imperative was on the track was four months ago at the Connecticut Classic. He placed second against a very good field, losing out by two lengths to Moreno.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
We're going to use some process of elimination here. Red Vine hasn’t ever run up against a field this big or with this much quality to it. Hard Aces has been off the track for too long since his last win at the Gold Cup. Beholder is awesome, but we're really not that sure how she is going to run up against the boys. Hoppertunity has been beaten in his last four races by many of the same colts in this field. Bayern hasn't run a good race in months.
So even though we didn't spend a lot of time talking about him, we're going to go with Catch a Flight in this race. We love the fact that he’s been a favorite everywhere he goes, and has hit the board in each race run in this country.
After a great close at 1 1/16 miles at the San Diego Handicap in his last race, we'll take our chances with him in the Pacific Classic Stakes as well.
Play Catch a Flight to win the Pacific Classic Stakes
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