It is difficult to overstate how important a race Saturdays Pacific Classic at Del Mar is. Perhaps this is the best way to illustrate the point:The latest future bk Breeders Cup Classic odds from the Race and Sports bk at Wynn Las Vegas have six horses listed at single digit odds, or, to put it another way, odds of less than 10-1. Three of those six horses will meet in the Pacific Classic.California Chrome, currently second choice in Wynns future bk Classic odds at 4-1, right behind the 3-1 price on Whitney and Met Mile winner Frosted, will be the favorite in the Pacific Classic. California Chrome was Horse of the Year in 2014, a powerful winner of the Dubai World Cup last March, and on the basis of international rankings, is currently considered to be the second best race horse in the world.(And no, Frosted is not ranked number 1. That ranking currently belongs to Japanese international traveler A Shin Hikari. Frosted is ranked fourth.)Dortmund, currently 8-1 in Wynns future Classic odds, figures to be the second choice in the betting in the Pacific Classic. Dortmund doesnt have a resume comparable to California Chrome or the other big gun in the Pacific Classic. However, Dortmund gave California Chrome everything he wanted when they met in last months San Diego Handicap, which was California Chrome first start since the Dubai Cup in late Match, but Dortmunds first start since last November. And people tend to forget, but Dortmund had won all six of his starts when he met American Pharoah in last years Kentucky Derby, and at the time, he was very much considered to be in the same league as the colt who famously went on to sweep the Triple Crown.Beholder, third of the big three in this Pacific Classic, is third choice in Wynns future bk Classic odds at 5-1. Beholder is a three time Eclipse ward champion, and the fact that she comes into Saturdays race off a narrow defeat at odds of 1-10 in the Clement Hirsch only marginally tempers this Pacific Classic match-up. Beholder crushed males in last years Pacific Classic, winning off by more than eight lengths in what was the finest performance of her career, although it must be said that score came at the expense of a field nowhere near as strong as the one she will face in this Pacific Classic.As if there wasnt already enough going on in this Pacific Classic, another layer of intrigue was added at the post position draw. In most circumstances, post position means little in a race like the Pacific Classic because of the long run to the first turn. But this is an exception.California Chrome drew the rail for Saturdays race, which might prove problematic for him. California Chrome has long established that he does not like running inside of horses, and is much more comfortable (and effective) when he is out in the clear. So with eight opponents breaking to his outside, you can see where this could be an issue, long run to the first turn or not.The gd news for Chrome fans is, at age 5, he still has plenty of tactical speed, which is much to his credit because speed is often one of the first things to go in top racehorses of a certain age. California Chrome isnt the greatest gate horse in the world, be he is simply faster early than the five horses breaking immediately to his right. If California Chrome were mine, Id have the jock send him right when the bell rings, and get him out toward the middle of the track as quickly as possible. That could negate any strategic advantage held by Beholder and Dortmund, who break from posts seven and eight, and who do have the speed to pin California Chrome down inside if California Chrome is not proactive about the situation.California Chrome, Beholder, and Dortmund are not the only stars who will be racing Saturday. Songbird, last years champion 2-year-old filly and pretty much a lock to repeat as champion 3-year-old filly this year, goes in the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.The Alabama will be Songbirds first attempt at a distance as far as 1-? miles -- its American racings classic distance, and it also happens to be the distance of the Pacific Classic, and Breeders Cup Classic, for that matter. The Alabama distance is, frankly, the only factor of uncertainty for Songbird in the Alabama, and even then, it isnt much of one. How could it be for a filly who won the first nine starts of her career by lopsided margins of 6-?, 5-?, 4-?, 5-?, 6-?, 3-?, 3-?, 6-?, and 5-? lengths?Swell Drink Bottles NZ Sale . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Swell Liberty Bottle NZ . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. http://www.swellwaterbottlenz.com/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Swell Water Bottle Flowers . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. d-collection.html" target="_blank">Swell Bottle Lily Wd .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King.LONG POND, Pa. -- Jeff Gordon wouldnt speculate on whether he would continue driving the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 car after this week at Pocono Raceway, but he said he feels gd enough to continue racing if needed.Gordon views his role as a substitute driver as a temporary one, but just how temporary is still to be determined. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is missing his third consecutive race battling balance and nausea likely form concussions, and the four-time Cup champion is in his second week coming out of retirement as a substitute.I will be here as long as they need me, Gordon said Friday after practice at Pocono Raceway. I say that very lsely. ... Will it be more? I dont know, but Im just thankful that the team believes in me and that gives me confidence in myself.Turning 45 next week, Gordon battled back issues throughout the latter stages of his career, which had appeared to end after the 2015 season with 93 wins in 797 starts. He said he certainly felt it Monday and Tuesday after a 13th-place finish at Indianapolis.I fought threw it the last few years, said Gordon, an equity owner in Hendrick who feels the time in the car can help him in his new advisory role. I can fight through it longer if I have to. I prefer not to. I am lking at this as a very temporary thing. ... I wish Dale a speedy recovery. Id like him to be back in the car.But at the same time if hes not, I feel like each time Im in the car Ill be more confident and comfortable to get better results.Gordon would make his 800th start next week -- if he races -- at Watkins Glen. The series then has a week off before races Bristol, Michigan, Darlington and Richmond close out the regular season before the 10-week Chase, and Gordon refused to speculate on whether the schedule will impact the decision on Earnhardts return.Thats a question for Dale and a podcast, Gordon said.On The Dale Jr. Download podcast on his internet radio network, Earnhardt said Monday that he would see doctors sn and have another update this Monday.ddddddddddddThere are certain things that you can race through, but one of the things that you cannot race through is concussion-like symptoms, Earnhardt said. The balance deal is a critical part of being able to drive a race car. This process is going to take a little bit longer. ... Im not going to go against that [doctors] advice no matter what. I cant play around at this age. And with my history, I definitely dont need to get cute.Earnhardts team is still eligible for the owners title through points (and any future wins) earned by substitute drivers. Gordon said that could play a role on who gets behind the wheel if Earnhardt cant return. He said there is no pressure from HMS on Earnhardt to return before he feels comfortable returning.I wouldnt be here in Pocono if I wasnt committed to being there for Hendrick and this team in any way that would need me, Gordon said. There is a balance in trying to make this transition. ... Theres the side of who is the best person to be in the car to get the most points and then there is the sponsorship side of it as well.So far, from what Rick [Hendrick] is telling me, that seems to be me.Gordon has talked with Earnhardt, who has done his best to stay as engaged as possible.He likes to FaceTime, Gordon said. It seems like he is always on the treadmill every time I see him or talk to him. But hes just real interested in what were up to and hows it going and things were working on.Earnhardt, on the podcast Monday, said he misses the interaction with his team.I miss the people more than the driving, to be honest with you, Earnhardt said. The friendships and the relationships that you have at the race track are more valuable, to me, than anything. ' ' '