Beholder, a 2-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Henny Hughes, demolished a first-condition allowance field at Santa Anita Park Oct. 4 by 11 lengths (VIDEO) and had trainer Richard Mandella pondering a follow-up in the Breeders' Cup.
Following the race, the Hall of Fame conditioner said the Spendthrift Farm filly could run next in either the $500,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint against males, or in the $1 million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at 1 1/16 miles. Both are Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.
Garrett Gomez was aboard Beholder, who completed the six-furlong distance in 1:09 flat, the fastest clocking of the fall meet that kicked off Sept. 28.
"Depending on how she acts next week, we'll make a decision," said Mandella. "She cruised along so easy today it's just amazing. Garrett said he felt like he could do whatever he wanted to with her, so we'll wait and see."
Beholder was scratched from the $250,000 Chandelier Stakes (gr. I), formerly the Oak Leaf, at 1 1/16 miles Sept. 29. The race was won in a romp by Executiveprivilege, the early favorite for the BC Juvenile Fillies.
Beholder was beaten by a nose by Executiveprivilege after setting the pace in the seven-furlong Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) Sept. 1 on Polytrack.
"She's a really talented filly," said Gomez. "My biggest concern today was keeping her relaxed. She kind of got away from me the other day at Del Mar, but today she settled into a nice stride and she ran a really good race for me.
"When I came back (to the winner's circle) I wanted to see the time. When I saw 44 (half mile time) and 1:09 flat--that's a top filly."
Beholder broke from the number two post position in a field of six and carved out fractions of :21.50, :44.02, and :56.09 while increasing her advantage to seven lengths at the furlong mark. She won under a long hold while continuing to draw off.
Off at odds of 3-5, Beholder paid $3.20, $2.10 and $2.10. With the winner's share of $30,000, she boosted her earnings to $135,000 from a record of two wins and a second in four starts.
Bred by Clarkland Farm, Beholder is out of the stakes winning mare Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek. A $180,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase last year, she is a half sibling to 2007 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) winner Into Mischief .
Second choice Mechaya ran second with Wildcat Angie third in the six-horse field.
