American Pharoah, Beholder Work for Classic

By Frank Angst and Claire Novak



On a morning when Spendthrift Farms' Beholder was slated to tick off one of three remaining works prior to the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) and a showdown with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, the champion racemare unexpectedly shared the Santa Anita Park worktab with her expected rival.    

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who worked American Pharoah on a Sunday last time and on a Saturday the move before that, called an audible and sent Zayat Stables' homebred Pioneerof the Nile   colt out to breeze Friday, Oct. 9.

Santa Anita clockers caught American Pharoah going five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 "handily," while Beholder went the distance in 1:02 flat and was given the "breezing" label that is not often awarded in Southern California.

Immediately following the 6:30 a.m. renovation break, two-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder jogged and then galloped straight off from the quarter mile chute and was set down approaching the half mile pole by regular exercise rider Janeen Painter for an eye-catching move that culminated a furlong past the wire. The 5-year-old mare by Henny Hughes is trained by Richard Mandella.

"I'm very happy with how she looks," Mandella said. "She went five-eighths in 1:01 and change (on his watch) and couldn't look better ... It is such an exciting challenge to run against (American Pharoah) ... Usually I'm stressing about what to do, which I am, but the excitement of this is a little different. It's nice to be a part of it. She'll leave for Kentucky on Oct. 19."

Following the work, Beholder walked through the grandstand tunnel to the Seabiscuit Walking Ring and then straight back to Mandella's Barn 4. She will turn in another breeze in California and will work once at Keeneland prior to the Classic.

American Pharoah came on the track just after Beholder and jogged straight off with Martin Garcia aboard. He was accompanied by Baffert's primary assistant, Jimmy Barnes, who was on a stable pony. After standing on his own far off the rail on the first turn, "Pharoah" then headed to the backside, and like Beholder, worked from the half mile pole to the seventh eighths, getting a half-mile in :48.40 and five furlongs in 1:01 1/5.

"I got him in :49 and 1:01," Baffert said. "I didn't want to do a lot with him. He'll breeze two more times here. I change (plans) from day to day, but he'll breeze here next week."

Although initial plans were to ship to Kentucky well in advance of the two-day Breeders' Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 30 & 31, Baffert has now decided to ship in much closer to the Classic, citing uncertain weather in the area as the primary reason.

"I have a few dates in mind, but I haven't really zeroed in on it," Baffert said. "The 27th is the last date, and there's the 25th. I'm watching the weather."

Also on the Santa Anita tab Oct. 9 were Reddam Racing's undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) contender Nyquist, who went four furlongs in :52 flat for trainer Doug O'Neill, and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) contender Land Over Sea, who went the same distance in :51 flat.