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Richard's Kid takes Cougar II route again to Pacific Classic

Richard's Kid will spot his opponents between six and 13 pounds (Benoit Photos) One year ago, RICHARD'S KID (Lemon Drop Kid) used a near-miss effort in the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II H. as a springboard to success in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1), and trainer Bob Baffert is following the same playbook at Del Mar this summer. The dark bay will prep in Friday's $125,000 Cougar II, now elevated to Grade 3 status, on the way to his title defense in the August 28 Pacific Classic. In the 2009 Cougar II, Richard's Kid was beaten a nose by UNUSUAL SUSPECT (Unusual Heat), while making just his second start for his new owner/trainer team of Arnold Zetcher and Baffert. Since then, the two horses' career trajectories have been very different: Richard's Kid has gone on to become one of the nation's top older males, but Unusual Suspect has failed to win in 11 subsequent starts. Outperforming his 24-1 odds next time out in the Pacific Classic, Richard's Kid was along in time to upset Einstein (Brz) and Rail Trip (Jump Start). He concluded the season with a rallying third in the Goodwood S. (G1) and a sixth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Richard's Kid was then sold to Sheikh Rashid's Zabeel Racing International as a prime candidate for the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). Kept in training with Baffert, he opened 2010 with a last-to-first success in the San Antonio H. (G2). The late runner had no luck, however, in a paceless World Cup and wound up seventh at Meydan in March.

Richard's Kid reappeared in the July 10 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), finishing a solid third for new rider Martin Garcia. The 122-pound highweight in the Cougar II, he will break from post 5 with Garcia back aboard.

Unusual Suspect is a hit-or-miss type whose better efforts have come on turf of late. The Barry Abrams trainee checked in second to Bourbon Bay (Sligo Bay [Ire]) in the San Luis Obispo H. (G2) and San Juan Capistrano Invitational H. (G2) earlier this year, and he exits a third in the Sunset H. (G3).

In contrast, RENDEZVOUS (Victory Gallop) has shown more on synthetic than on turf this campaign, and could bounce back to form on the Polytrack here. Jerry Hollendorfer takes the blinkers off the chestnut, who was an excellent runner-up in the Tokyo City H. (G3) at this distance on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride in April. Grade 2 veteran DELIGHTFUL KISS (Kissin Kris) returns to this distance for the first time since 2008, when he captured the Turfway Park Fall Championship S. (G3) and reported home fourth in the Breeders' Cup Marathon. Although the gray millionaire has been off form recently, the stretch-out could be what the doctor ordered.

TEMPLE CITY (Dynaformer) was just outdueled by the game Global Hunter (Arg) in the July 4 American H. (G2), and switches surfaces while stepping way up in trip for Carla Gaines. In his only prior try at a marathon distance, the royally-bred dark bay was a close third in the Del Mar H. (G2) last summer. The mare PRINCESS TAYLOR (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) nearly pulled a 16-1 surprise in the grassy Beverly Hills H. (G3) and gets in with a scant 109 pounds, but is winless from eight career attempts on synthetic. Rounding out the field is LIFELINE (Pulpit), who looks overmatched on paper, but hails from the in-form barn of Myung Kwon Cho.

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