Beholder Works Toward Hirsch at Del Mar

Three-time champion mare Beholder went through a business-like workout July 17 at Del Mar, where she covered seven furlongs in company in 1:27 under gray skies with regular rider Gary Stevens at the controls and trainer Richard Mandella looking on.

Del Mar clockers gave the 6-year-old Henny Hughes mare splits of :25 3/5, :51 1/5, 1:03, and 1:14 4/5 through six furlongs. She worked together with a 3-year-old maiden named Saltini from the Mandella barn at about 7:50 a.m. PDT on an empty racetrack.

Del Mar racing officials cleared the track between 7:45 and 8 a.m. for her and other likely runners for the July 30 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I), just as they had the day before for California Chrome   and other candidates for the July 23 San Diego Handicap (gr. II).

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Stevens, who has ridden Beholder 12 times and came away a winner in 11 of them, started her out about four lengths behind her workmate approaching the six-furlong marker, then cruised behind her through the far turn. Saltini shifted out and off the rail inside the quarter-pole, and Stevens and Beholder took the inside route to draw even at the eighth-pole.

With minimal encouragement from her rider, Beholder steadily pulled away through the lane and was several lengths ahead as she crossed the wire. She continued her drill on through to the seven-furlong marker, while her workmate was finished at the wire. Saltini was given a final time of 1:15 4/5 for six furlongs.

"She's ready to run," he Hall of Fame conditioner said after the drill. "We weren't trying to invent anything today. We just wanted to get some good wind in her and we did that. I think she's as good as ever."

The Kentucky-bred owned by B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm has won 17 of her 22 starts and more than $4.7 million in purses. She was champion 2-year-old filly in 2012, champion 3-year-old filly in 2013 and then—after a 2014 season that saw her race only three times due to various problems—champion older mare in 2015. She is on a seven-race win streak.

Besides the Hirsch, which she captured last year, Beholder is again being pointed toward Del Mar's signature race, the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I) Aug. 20. Last year, she dominated a field of nine males by more than eight lengths in a powerhouse performance. This time around, however, the challenge could be a fair bit stronger: California Chrome is being pointed for the same race and the flashy chestnut is back in top form.

Another likely Clement L. Hirsch runner, Hronis Racing's Stellar Wind, worked earlier in the morning for trainer John Sadler. Drilling in company before 7 a.m., last year's 3-year-old champion went seven furlongs in 1:25 2/5. She worked with the 5-year-old maiden mare Carnival Lights and, like Beholder, Stellar Wind went "seven from the six," meaning she started her work at the six-furlong pole, then continued out one furlong past the finish line.

Stellar Wind chased Beholder home in their most recent start, in the Vanity (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park June 4.