IT’S OFFICIAL

The August 25, 2015 Edition

Beholder’s 114 Beyer figure – the highest earned by any horse at any distance this year – will play no part when the decision is made on whether or not the multi-champion daughter of Henny Hughes will be pointed to Breeders’ Cup Classic,

It won’t be part of the discussion, because there will be no discussion.

Very simply, Beholder will run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, or she won’t run at all.  She could very well use the Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita September 26^th as a prep, or less likely simply train up to the race, but if trainer Richard Mandella is satisfied that she’s as good on the last Saturday in October as she was on the third Saturday in August, it’ll be Classic or bust, because there really isn’t any alternative.

The Breeders’ Cup Distaff?  Been there, done that.

The discrepancy in purse - the Classic is worth $5 million, the Distaff only $2 million – will be no factor because owner B. Wayne Hughes could care less.  At this stage of his life, money doesn’t motivate Hughes, greatness does, and he dreams - as any sportsman would – of laying claim to the best thoroughbred in the land.  Hughes truly believes that if given chance, Beholder will prove that she is just that.

As Hughes said in the Pacific Classic post-race press conference, “it’s a pride thing.”

It wouldn’t be difficult for Hughes and Mandella to convince themselves that Beholder is, at this stage of her career on pure performance, the equal of Zenyatta, though her resume would hardly match up.  Zenyatta was a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Horse of the Year, and the winner of 19 straight races.  She was a mainstream sports superstar.

Beholder has accomplished none of that just yet.   But if the opportunity presents itself to win the Classic while in the process defeating a field that likely will include first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, you can be sure that her connections will gladly accept the challenge.      

Here are this week’s Breeders’ Cup rankings:

BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC

1.       American Pharoah (B. Baffert)

2.       Beholder (R. Mandella)

3.       Honor Code (C. McGaughey)

4.       Tonalist (C. Clement)

5.       Texas Red (K. Desormeaux)

6.       Frosted (K. McLaughlin)

7.       Effinex (J. Jerkins)

8.       Coach Inge (T. Pletcher)

BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE

1.       Liam’s Map (T. Pletcher)

2.       Dortmund (B. Baffert)

3.       Upstart (R. Violette, Jr.)

4.       Bradester (E. Kenneally)

5.       Appealing Tale (P. Miller)

6.       Red Vine (C. Clement)

7.       Wicked Strong (J. Jerkens)

8.       Race Day (T. Pletcher)

BREEDERS’ CUP TURF

1.       Flintshire (A. Fabre)

2.       Red Rifle (T. Pletcher)

3.       Big Blue Kitten (C. Brown)

4.       The Pizza Man (R. Brueggeman)

5.       Big John B (P. D’Amato)

6.       Twilight Eclipse (M. Maker)

7.       The Corsican (D. Simcock)

8.       Ashleyluvssugar (P. Eurton)

BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT

1.       Private Zone (J. Navarro)

2.       Rock Fall (T. Pletcher)

3.       Work All Week (R. Brueggeman)

4.       The Big Beast (A. Dutrow)

5.       Holy Boss (S. Asmussen)

6.       Favorite Tale (G. Preciado)

7.       Masochistic (R. Ellis)

8.       Salutos Amigos (D. Jacobson)

BREEDERS’ CUP MILE

1.       Wise Dan (C. Lopresti)

2.       Esoterique (A. Fabre)

3.       Ironicus (C. McGaughey)

4.       Mshawish (T. Pletcher)

5.       Seek Again (W. Mott)

6.       Avanzare (T. Proctor)

7.       Grand Arch (B. Lynch)

8.       Prospect Park (C. Sise, Jr.)

BREEDERS’ CUP DISTAFF

1.       Stopchargingmaria (T. Pletcher)

2.       Wedding Toast (K. McLaughlin)

3.       Untapable (S. Asmussen)

4.       Sheer Drama (D. Fawkes)

5.       Yahilwa (J. Cassidy)

6.       Curalina (T. Pletcher)

7.       I’m a Chatterbox (L. Jones)

8.       Embellish the Lace (A. Dutrow)

BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE TURF

1.       Hard Not to Like (C. Clement)

2.       Secret Gesture (R. Beckett)

3.       Tepin (M. Casse)

4.       Stephanie’s Kitten (C. Brown)

5.       Euro Charline-GB (M. Botti)

6.       Watsdachances (C. Brown)

7.       Kitten’s Queen (C. Brown)

8.       Discreet Marq (C, Clement)

BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT

1.       Taris (s. Callaghan)

2.       Fantastic Style (B. Baffert)

3.       Dame Dorothy (T. Pletcher)

4.       Cavorting (K. McLaughlin)

5.       Unbridled Forever (D. Stewart)

6.       Judy the Beauty (W. Ward)

7.       Stonetastic (K. Breen)

8.       La Verdad (L. Rice)

BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE

1.       Lady Shipman (K. O’Connell)

2.       Thieves Guild (J. Toner)

3.       Shore Runner (J. Sharp)

4.       Ready for Rye (T. Albertrani)

5.       Undrafted (W. Ward)

6.       Ageless (A. Delacour)

7.       Katie’s Eyes (M. Stidham)

8.       Holy Lute (J. Cassidy)

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE

1.       Exaggerator (K. Desormeaux)

2.       Nyquist (D. O’Neil)

3.       Young Brian (P. D’Amato)

4.       Saratoga Mischief (T. Pletcher)

5.       Blameitonthelaw (J. Sadler)

6.       Magna Light (R. Rodriguez)

7.       Swipe (K. Desormeaux)

8.       Mrazek (D. O’Neil)

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES

1.       Tap to It (R. Nicks)

2.       Just Wicked (S. Asmussen)

3.       Off the Tracks (R. Rodriguez)

4.       Rachel’s Valentina (T. Pletcher)

5.       Songbird (J. Hollendorfer)

6.       Pretty N Cool (B. Baffert)

7.       One Last Shot (B. Baffert)

8.       Width (C. Clement)

THIS WEEK’S DEL MAR “BLACK BOOK”

 CHIPS ALL IN (Aug. 23, 6^th race) – Got left at the gate, was very wide the first half mile after rushing up to press the pace, and by all rights should have completely dropped out of it when the field straightened for home.  Remarkably, this thoroughly professional gelding continued on bravely to the wire and wound up third, beaten a length and one-half, in competitive $40,000 turf miler while certainly best.  Can sprint or route when he’s feel good and can handle any surface, so Brocklebank has many options, Los Alamitos among them. 

OLIGARCH (Aug. 22, 11^th race) – Tough sprinting gelding was victimized somewhat by an inside draw and displayed courage to respond late and gain second money behind Kafister in a fast, highly-rated race for $32,000 older claimers.  Wasn’t quite quick enough to make the lead and was in some traffic on the turn while saving ground, but responded late while appearing to regain his best form.  Against a similar group next time – perhaps at Los Alamitos where he’s stabled - son of Congrats should be hard to beat.

SUGAR BUZZ (Aug 19, 6^th race) – Might prove to be a very useful claim by O’Neill following a promising fourth place effort in a M30000 debut sprint for 2-year-olds.  Son of Include kept on willing through the lane and finish fourth in what was fairly strong race for the level.  He clearly wants more ground, and we suspect he’ll get his chance to route next time out.