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Beholder, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012, likely had an excuse when she was second in her sophomore debut Jan. 21 as the 1-5 favorite in the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II).
"We did an exam of her yesterday, scoped her and found an ulcer in her throat, a small one that we can clean up real quick," Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella said on a rainy morning at Santa Anita Park Jan. 24. "She probably had a pretty sore throat in the race and (we) didn't even know it."
Mandella is optimistic that the daughter of Henny Hughes can still make the March 2 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) at one mile.
"I don't think it will interfere because of the timing of it," Mandella said. "She's going to get an easy week anyway. We'll treat it and work on it, and if she gets better quick enough, we'll go; if it doesn't, we'll do something else."
Mandella said that Malibu (gr. I) winner Jimmy Creed , who had been pointed to the Strub Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/8 miles Feb. 2, is now ticketed for the Feb. 23 San Carlos Stakes (gr. II). Like the Malibu, the San Carlos is a seven-furlong test, although open to all ages.
"He had a little temperature last week," Mandella said. "He got right over it but then he coughed a little the day before yesterday and now (with the track closed due to heavy rains) I can't work him to catch up, so it's (messed) up. We'll just aim him to the San Carlos."
