Beholder Comfortably Wins Adoration Stakes

Spendthrift Farm's Beholder withstood a late charge from Warren's Veneda to comfortably win the $100,000 Adoration Stakes (gr. III) by 1 1/4 lengths June 13 at Santa Anita Park .



It was the first graded stakes try for the six-time grade I winner trained by Richard Mandella since her victory the Sept. 27 Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I).

"I'm relieved and delighted," Mandella said. "Warren's Veneda is a good filly and she ran at her and made a contest out of it, but I wouldn't trade mine for anybody."



After My Monet set early fractions of :23.51 and :47.04 through a half-mile, the two-time Eclipse Award winner tracked in second and took over in the final turn, running six furlongs in 1:10.86.



Warren's Veneda, a grade I winner in her own right, closed admirably with jockey Tyler Baze, but could not get past Beholder and jockey Gary Stevens, who gave the 5-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes a confident ride.

"It was a pretty easy race for her," Stevens said. "I rode her like she was the best mare out there and she was. She does things so natural... I respected Warren's Veneda. She didn't get any pace in the Vanity with Beholder's scratch that day. I knew she was going to get some pace to run at today and Tyler would have a beat on me, and he did."



The winner hit the wire at 1:41.67 for the 1 1/16-mile test over a dirt course rated fast. My Monet finished third, 7 1/4 lengths behind.

Mandella said after the race that Beholder's next race could be the the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar Aug. 1, followed by the Zenyatta (gr. I) and the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 30.

"That's what we're here for," Mandella said of the Breeders' Cup.

Warren's Veneda trailed in the field of six early on, then improved position in the backstretch before making her charge.

"I saw two great mares," said Craig Lewis, who trains the 5-year-old daughter of Affirmative. "I anticipated the pace a little hotter. Tyler tried to hold her, but he had to let her run. She's a nice mare. I'm lucky to have her."

"She ran her heart out," Baze added.

Beholder, off at 1-5 odds, paid $2.40, $2.10, and $2.10 across the board. Warren's Veneda brought $2.40 and $2.10, while My Monet delivered $3.20 to show.

Another 9 1/2 lengths back was Wild in the Saddle in fourth, followed by Grandiose Tactics and Oscar Party. Cast in Silver was scratched.