Beholder defeats Stellar Wind to capture tenth Grade 1 win
Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita Park marked the second start of 2016 for champion mare Beholder. While the tote board did not suggest an increase in competition from her six-year-old debut last month in the Adoration Stakes, to today’s Vanity Mile, the presence of 2015 Eclipse Award winner Stellar Wind certainly did. In the end though, it was the daughter of Henny Hughes that once again hit the wire first under Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, one and a half lengths ahead of Stellar Wind. It was three-quarters of a length back to Finest City in third.
With two sprinters stretching out for the first time on the main track one would have expected a quick early pace, but it was quite the opposite. Pacesetter Lost Bus got away with early fractions of 25.03 and 49.31 while Beholder stalked immediately off the daughter of Bring the Heat. Stellar Wind saved ground along the rail right off the pace with Finest City outside the eventual runner-up. When they hit the far turn, the Richard Mandella trainee put a head in front and then inched away in the stretch. Stellar Wind ran strong off the lengthy layoff, but could not catch the winner. Finest City ran respectful in her first trip around two turns to complete the trifecta.
The win in the Vanity gave the Spendthrift Farm mare her tenth Grade I win and her seventeenth victory in twenty-two lifetime starts. She is now an incredible 13 for 14 at Santa Anita Park with one runner up finish.
In post-race commentary, Mandella declared, “Just another great effort. 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… There is something very special about her.”
Owner B. Wayne Hughes was equally grateful and complimentary. He called her “better this year than she was last year…. She’s bigger, stronger and faster.” He went onto state that the Breeders’ Cup in November is the main goal with the Pacific Classic at Del Mar also the intention still.
The seventh race on the eleventh race card was the second leg of the $100,000 Guaranteed Pick Six. The winner paid $2.40, $2.10, and $2.10. Stellar Wind returned $2.20 and $2.10. Finest City paid $2.40 to Show. There was a minus Place pool of $4650.95 and a minus Show pool of $160,051.41. The winning trifecta combination of 2-1-7 paid $4.20 on a one-dollar wager. The final time for the one-mile event was 1:35.97.