Beholder becomes first female to win Pacific Classic

The Pacific Classic celebrated its silver anniversary on Saturday at Del Mar with a platinum-level performance, as Beholder, the only mare in the 10-horse field, became the first female to win the Grade 1, $1 million race with an authoritative, 8 1/4-length victory that immediately brought forth questions to trainer Richard Mandella if the Breeders’ Cup Classic was possible.

“Everything’s possible,” Mandella said. “but I’m just gonna enjoy the hell out of this.”

There’s plenty to savor. In her 19th start, and first going 1 1/4 miles, Beholder turned in inarguably her best lifetime effort. She breezed past rivals on the turn, and when she switched to her right lead in upper stretch she sailed away under jockey Gary Stevens for her 14th career victory.

For a 5-year-old mare who already has won two Breeders’ Cup races and two Eclipse Awards – and is a sure-fire Hall of Famer -- this was something special.

“I’ve never had a horse win a race at this level the way she did,” Stevens said.

Beholder ($6), the favorite, completed 1 1/4 miles on the fast main track in 1:59.77. Mandella, just showing off, rounded out the exacta when Catch a Flight got up for second, a length in front of Red Vine. Hoppertunity was fourth and was followed, in order, by Imperative, Hard Aces, Class Leader, Bailoutbobby, Bayern, and Midnight Storm.

Beholder got a perfect trip under Stevens, who settled her into third, in the clear, during the early going as Bayern and Midnight Storm set blazing fractions of 22.36 seconds for the opening quarter, :45.45 for a half, and 1:09.98 for six furlongs.

As the field rounded the far turn, Beholder ranged up outside the two leaders, and then flashed by them in an instant, a breathtaking move all the more notable because Stevens looked like he was out for a morning breeze.

“She was in an absolute gallop,” Stevens said. “She just swooped by the leaders, with her ears straight up.”

At the top of the stretch, “when she swapped into her right lead, I chirped to her, and – boom – she was gone,” Stevens said.

While circling with Beholder on the track prior to going into the winner’s circle, Stevens looked down said, “She’s not even tired.”

This was the third Pacific Classic win for Stevens, but his first since 1997, when he won in concert with Mandella with Gentlemen. Mandella has now won the race four times.

“For one time, I’m speechless,” Mandella said. “I’ve never felt emotion over a race like that. When she made that move, it took my breath away. I’m flabbergasted.

“All year she had the fillies and mares under control. Gary looked like an exercise rider on her,” Mandella said.

“I didn’t want to ship,” he said, because Beholder can get fussy when she travels. “If I’m going to ship, it’s not going to be until the Breeders’ Cup. I wanted to give her a chance to do something special.”

B. Wayne Hughes, who races Beholder under his Spendthrift Farm banner, said Beholder “is the first horse that makes me feel lucky to be the owner. I think that’s called pride.”

Beholder was the fifth female to attempt to win the Pacific Classic. She earned a first prize of $600,000, bringing her lifetime earnings to $4,256,600.

The Pacific Classic was Beholder’s first start against males, and the victory earned her a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Whether she takes on males again, or returns to her division for the Distaff, will be a question for another day.

There was no question on Saturday who was best. It was something to behold.