Beholder Scratched From Breeders’ Cup Classic

Beholder after arriving at Keeneland last week. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Ron Mitchell, @BH_RMitchell
Trainer Richard Mandella said two-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder will not run in the Breeders' Cup Classic after being scoped the morning of Oct. 29 and discovering the mare had bled.
The 5-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes owned by Spendthrift Farm had developed a fever after her arrival in Kentucky from California and Mandella said the mare has some irritated lung tissue.
"And with that we've obviously go some irritated lungs that are vulnerable right now and we will not take the chance to run her under those circumstances," Mandella said after announcing during a mid-morning press conference that included other trainers.
"There's obviously some irritated lung tissue there," he said. "She will be fine, but if I put her under the pressure of a race situation, it could cause some real damage. This was obviously due to the fever she had when she arrived. You could say we just haven't had any luck shipping, but it's been something different every time. She's an aggressive mare and just got herself worked up shipping and made herself sick.
The defection of Beholder ends a highly anticipated showdown between the mare and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
"It's sad," Mandella said. "It's exciting to take on a challenge like this. It's still a great race. I just wish I was part of it."
Mandella said plans still call Beholder, who has 15 wins and two second placings from 20 starts and earnings in excess of $4.4-million to run in 2016.