Nine males face Beholder in Pacific Classic

Beholder, with jockey Gary Stevens aboard, win the Santa Lucia Stakes at Santa Anita Park on April 20, 2014. (Benoit Photo)For this year's 25th running of the Grade I TVG Pacific Classic on Saturday, it comes down to one big question: Is there a male in the house who can beat trainer Richard Mandella's super mare Beholder and keep her from becoming the first female to win the $1-million race?

Nine males will take a run at her for the $600,000 first-place check, but there's $200,000 for second and $120,000 for third, certainly not chump change. Just ask trainer John Sadler, who saddled Kettle Corn and You Know I Know, the second- and third-place finishers, respectively, to the record-setting…