Champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) came out of her hard-fought runner-up effort behind Stellar Wind (Curlin) in Saturday's GI Clement L. Hirsch S. none too much worse for the wear, according to trainer Richard Mandella.
“She came out of it good but tired,” Mandella said. “We knew [Stellar Wind] was a good filly, but we didn't expect that big of a race. We're proud of [Beholder] that she ran so well.”
The Hirsch broke an eight-race win streak for Beholder and cast into question her participation in the Aug. 20 GI TVG Pacific Classic, a race she won in scintillating fashion a year ago.
“It's going to make me think about the Classic,” Mandella admitted. “The reason I said last year we were going to run in the Classic was because everything went perfectly. It didn't go perfectly this year. I'm not saying no, but now it's something I'm going to have to think about and see how she is.”
For trainer John Sadler, Stellar Wind's victory Saturday was a fitting birthday present. Looking ahead for last year's champion sophomore filly, Sadler said, “We'll probably just wait for the GI Zenyatta S. and then the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, which has been on her schedule all along,” Sadler said. “I'm not tempted with the Pacific Classic. We'll probably be more tempted with Hard Aces (Hard Spun) now for the Classic.”
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