Beholder puts in Breeders’ Cup workout

Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Less than three weeks until the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 31, two-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder had a Sunday morning workout at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Richard Mandella, the 4-year-old filly went five furlongs in 1:02.20 with her regular rider Mike Smith in the saddle.

“She worked in the fog so I didn’t see it,” Mandella said of Beholder. “She went real nice, though.

“She’ll get a bigger work next week, but she’s in great shape.”

The champion 2-year-old filly of 2012 and last year’s champion 3-year-old filly has the chance to join Bayakoa and Royal Delta as the only winners of consecutive Distaffs. She is expected to face last year’s runner-up Close Hatches in the 1 1/8-mile race along with leading 3-year-old filly Untapable.

Beholder won her second straight Zenyatta Stakes on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita in her first start after suffering a cut on her left hind pastern during the 1 1/16-mile Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park in June when she finished fourth to Close Hatches as the even-money favorite.

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Beholder won the Santa Lucia Stakes at Santa Anita on April 20 in her seasonal debut, more than four months after winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Categorized in: Horses