Three-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) put in her final breeze ahead of her attempt to defend her title in this Saturday's GI Pacific Classic Tuesday morning at Del Mar.
With regular exercise rider Janeen Painter in the irons, the Spendthrift Farm runner was among the first to hit the track at 6:30 following the first renovation break on a very foggy morning. Jogging with a pony, she broke off at the half-mile pole and the clockers, who had a hard time seeing through the fog, gave her a final time of :47 flat (2/22) for four furlongs.
“We just couldn't get any splits because of the fog,” said clocker Toby Turrell. “But we think our time was pretty close. We [there were four clockers working Tuesday morning] all agreed that it rated a “B” for breezing. She was well within herself.”
Trainer Richard Mandella, who watched the work from the Del Mar grandstand, said he caught Beholder in :12 from the eighth pole to the wire and had her galloping out to the seven-eighths pole in :25 1/5. The Hall of Famer disagreed with the clocker's time.
“I don't think she did any :47 this morning,” Mandella said. “Maybe :48 or even :49. But they're going to put what they want to put. It's fine with me.”
As for his thoughts on the work, Mandella remarked,”We didn't want to do anything special with her this morning. We just wanted to stretch her legs a little bit. She's done well with easy works in front of her races in the past. I told Janeen she could break her off from the half, the three [furlong pole] or the quarter [mile pole] and work her a half from wherever. I just didn't want another horse buzzing her and stirring her up. I said just find a quiet spot and go. It worked out perfect.”
Painter, who has worked for Mandella since 1998, was very impressed with the Beholder's work, saying, “Oh boy. Oh man,” when Mandella asked for her thoughts.
Beholder put in what is arguably the most impressive performance of her career when defeating males in last year's Pacfic Classic, but will face a tougher assignment this time around with the likes of 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) and MGISW “TDN Rising Star” Dortmund (Big Brown) signed on. An impressive winner of the GIII Adoration S. and GI Vanity Mile earlier this term, the two-time Breeders' Cup winner was last seen finishing second to fellow Eclipse Winner Stellar Wind (Curlin) in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. July 30.
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