Beholder Speeds to Victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff

 

Fifty year-old Stevens added to his comeback year by winning his ninth Breeders’ Cup race. He was last victorious in 2000 in the Mile with War Chant.

 

The 2013 Distaff featured the best fillies and mares in the nation with Royal Delta, Princess of Sylmar, Close Hatches, and Beholder. Between them had won 11 grade one races this year. On a racetrack that had been favoring front runners all day long, the battle between the best did not materialize as Beholder made the victory look very easy.

 

At the start of the race Authenticity held the early lead on the rail with Royal Delta just outside of her. Beholder sat on the outside of Royal Delta’s hip. The early fractions were a very reasonable :22.78 and :46.30. After the half mile Royal Delta became to fade without any pressure from rider Mike Smith and at the same time Beholder began to accelerate.

 

After six furlongs in 1:10.28 the race was basically decided. Javier Castellano asked Princess of Sylmar for run, but had got no response. Castellano said, “She stumbled really bad at the gate.  I blame the track.  It’s all speed, speed, speed and unfair to come-from-behind horses. Unfortunatley, she didn’t handle the track at all.  She was spinning her wheels.  Usually at the half-mile pole, she pulls, and today she didn’t pull at all.”

 

Mandella talked about Beholder’s performance, “We trained her this way (to run from off the pace.)  We’ve just never had to use it before.  She’s so naturally fast, you don’t have to train that into her and she’s made the lead so easily in many of her races.  Today, she had to come from off of it and she did it – and boy do I love it.  I’ve been lucky enough to have many good mares in my years of training, but this mare might have to be the best of all.”

 

After Beholder’s very impressive win in the Distaff the only question that remains is whether today she also won the three year filly championship.