Three-time Eclipse winner Beholder (Henny Hughes) took care of business as usual with a facile defeat of fellow champion Stellar Wind (Curlin) in Saturday's GI Vanity Mile S. at Santa Anita.
“She's like family to me,” Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens said. “She's the best thing I ever have ridden, or I ever will ride. I'm blessed to be on her back.”
The Spendthrift colorbearer broke on top, but happily conceded the advantage to longshot Lost Bus (Bring the Heat), running comfortably at that rival's hip through extremely soft opening splits of :25.03 and :49.31. Seizing command at the three-eighths pole, Beholder rolled clear in the stretch as Stevens remained motionless and simply cantered home to another effortless victory, the 10th Grade I of her brilliant career. Stellar Wind, scrubbed on most of the way by Victor Espinoza, was 1 1/2 lengths back in second while making her first attempt since a tough defeat in last fall's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.
“Just another great effort,” Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella commented. “She continues to amaze us all. There was a time when we didn't think she'd go long. She seems to adjust to what we're doing. I'm lucky to experience something that very few people in history have–to have a great horse this long. Good horses come along, and there are a few great ones, but to be great and stay great, it really is special. There's something very special about her.”
Beholder entered this contest on a seven-race winning streak, including a tour-de-force over males in the GI TVG Pacific Classic last August. Romping in the GI Zenyatta S. a month later, she was forced to miss a showdown with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic after spiking a fever. The 6-year-old made a successful seasonal debut last time in this venue's GIII Adoration S. May 8.
“I've had a lot of great horses, but not like this,” owner B. Wayne Hughes said. “I don't think this will ever happen to me again. I just heard Gary say she's the best horse he's ever ridden and she might well be. She's definitely the best horse I've ever owned; maybe the best horse anyone has ever owned.”
He continued, “I'll consider bringing her back at seven only if she's perfect. She's better this year than she was last year. She's bigger, stronger and faster. They put the girth on her and she's bigger and she loves it, so who am I to interfere with her having a good time. Mainly it's the Breeders' Cup in November as the main goal. The Pacific Classic is our intention right now, but I don't know the dates of everything, I'm just happy with her winning a race. Even though I take credit for it, Richard makes all the decisions.”
Leslie's Lady, also the dam of Grade I-winning sire Into Mischief, produced a Scat Daddy colt in 2015.
Saturday, Santa Anita
VANITY MILE S.-GI, $400,000, SA, 6-4, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:35.97, ft.
1–BEHOLDER, 123, m, 6, by Henny Hughes
1st Dam: Leslie's Lady (SW, $187,014), by Tricky Creek
2nd Dam: Crystal Lady, by Stop the Music
3rd Dam: One Last Bird, by One for All
($180,000 Ylg '11 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Clarkland Farm (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella; J-Gary L. Stevens. $240,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo filly, 3yo filly, older mare, 22-17-3-0, $4,736,600. *1/2 to Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday), GISW, $597,080. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click
for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
[bullet ad=”kingsequine-anotherchampionbrokeforspendthrift”][bullet ad=”clarkland-bredraisedsold”][bullet ad=”clarkland-halfbrobyscatdaddykeesep”][bullet ad=”woodford-winning”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]2–Stellar Wind, 121, f, 4, Curlin">Curlin–Evening Star, by Malibu Moon.
($40,000 Ylg '13 FTSAUG; $86,000 Ylg '13 EASSEP). O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Keswick Stables & Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (VA); T-John W. Sadler. $80,000.
[bullet ad=”stonestreet-bredraised”]3–Finest City, 121, f, 4, City Zip–Be Envied, by Lemon Drop Kid.
($50,000 Wlg '12 KEENOV; $85,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP). O-Seltzer Thoroughbreds; B-HnR Nothhaft Horseracing LLC (PA); T-Ian Kruljac. $48,000.
[bullet ad=”cobrafarm-pinhook”][bullet ad=”bluewater-shell-big-fish”][bullet ad=”hunter-valley-farm-sold”]Margins: 1HF, 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.20, 3.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Lost Bus, Divina Comedia (Fr). Scratched: Taris, All Star Bub.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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