Stellar Wind in tiptop shape and ready to go in Beholder Mile

The countdown is on in earnest for Saturday’s Battle of the Beholder, featuring champions Stellar Wind and Finest City, and streaking graded stakes winner Vale Dori in the Grade I race at one mile, offering $400,000 in prize money.

The entries are in, the post positions are drawn, and the racing world awaits one of the most eagerly anticipated showdowns of the year. No exception is John Sadler, trainer of 2015 three-year-old filly champion Stellar Wind, the 3-5 morning line favorite.

“It will probably be Vale Dori and Finest City out in front early, with us just a little off the pace, but not very far back,” Sadler said. “It’s a reasonable draw for us (No. two), and Victor (Espinoza) has ridden her in all her races (since owners Kosta and Peter Hronis purchased her more than two years ago), so he knows she’s fairly versatile.”

Espinoza has ridden in her last 11 races, winning seven. Twice she defeated four-time Eclipse Award champion Beholder, for whom the race is named.

“As far as strategy, it pretty much will all be Victor’s decision,” Sadler said. “We’ll leave that up to him. My job was to have her in tiptop shape and she’s in great shape and ready to go, so we’ll leave it up to Victor as to how he wants to ride the race.”