Beholder Could Try Turf in 2016 Debut
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Photo: Zoe Metz Photography
Beholder training.
Three-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder could make her first start of 2016 also her first start on turf, trainer Richard Mandella said March 24 at Santa Anita Park.
The Hall of Fame conditioner said $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (gr. IIT) at one mile on the turf course May 6 and the $100,000 Adoration Stakes (gr. III) at 1 1/16 miles on the main track May 8 are both possibilities for the daughter of Henny Hughes' 6-year-old debut.
"One of the two," Mandella said. "She has never run on turf, but the Royal Heroine is worth $100,000 more."
Spendthrift Farm's standout mare, who has won nine grade I events in her four seasons of racing and went undefeated in five starts last year, has been training steadily since early March.
BALAN: Nyquist, Beholder Drill at Santa Anita
Mandella said Beholder's main objective, at least at this point in the year, is the $400,000 Vanity Stakes (gr. I), a race she was entered in last year; she was scratched because of an illness. Beholder was also scratched from the 2015 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) after it was discovered she bled following a training session and sat out the 2014 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), again with an illness.