Spendthrift Farm's two best current racehorses will likely make their final runs on the racetrack during the Breeders' Cup Nov. 4-5 at Santa Anita Park.
That was the sentiment expressed by Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey, regarding three-time champion Beholder and recently untouchable sprinter Lord Nelson .
For Beholder, who will log her final timed work Oct. 26 for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), retirement is almost guaranteed, barring something monumental in the Friday-afternoon feature race.
"We never say never, but right now, that's the plan," Toffey said of the Richard Mandella-trained 6-year-old Henny Hughes mare. "If she wins by 10 lengths, people might change their minds.
"It's been a great run. Everything she's done in the last year has just been gravy, because what she did before was so special."
For Lord Nelson, there isn't wiggle room. The 4-year-old colt, undefeated in 2016 and the likely favorite for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), is headed to Spendthrift to begin his stallion career.
"His book isn't totally full, but it's nearly full," Toffey said of Lord Nelson, who Spendthrift purchased in late 2015. The son of Pulpit worked six furlongs in 1:12 flat for trainer Bob Baffert Wednesday. "He's one of the most exciting stallion prospects we've ever had—not only his breeding, but his conformation."
As exciting as Breeders' Cup weekend will be for the Spendthrift connections, the real work begins when Beholder and Lord Nelson make their way to the Lexington farm.
"From my standpoint, now the work starts," Toffey said. "Now we get to take care of them at the farm."
