Beholder Shows Readiness for Pacific Classic

If her workout at Del Mar Aug. 17 was any indication, two-time champion Beholder is ready for the challenge when she faces males for the first time and runs farther than she's ever run in the Aug. 22 TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I).

Working in company, the 5-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes, owned by B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm, breezed a half-mile in :48 after getting the first quarter in :24. She galloped out five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.

"She couldn't look any better," said the mare's Hall of Fame trainer, Richard Mandella.

Racing only against other females to date, Beholder has run up a record of 13 wins and three seconds in 18 starts, with $3,656,600 in earnings. She was champion 2- and 3-year-old filly in 2012 and 2013, respectively, and in her last outing toyed with the field when winning the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) by seven lengths without feeling the whip from Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens.

Mandella said there are two big question marks facing Beholder in the Pac Classic, but he believes she's up to the challenge.

"There are two questions: I think she can get a mile-and-a-quarter, but she hasn't done it," Mandella said. "Second of all, she hasn't run against colts. Those are two different things. But that's what the interest was, to try something a little bit stronger and see what happens.

"I think she deserves this chance and I would be pretty disappointed if it didn't work out,"

Bred in Kentucky by Clarkland Farm out of the Tricky Creek mare Leslie's Lady, Beholder was purchased by Spendthrift for $180,000 from the breeder's consignment to the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Also working toward the Pacific Classic Aug. 17 was Bob Baffert-trained Hoppertunity, the 2014 Clark Handicap (gr. I) winner who went five furlongs in 1:00, co-seventh fastest among 21 working the distance.