Beholder entered for Santa Lucia

ARCADIA, Calif. - The two-time champion Beholder will make her 2014 debut in the $75,000 Santa Lucia Stakes at Santa Anita next Sunday.

Beholder was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012 and the champion 3-year-old filly of 2013. She has not raced since winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff here last November.

Trainer Richard Mandella had been seeking a race for Beholder’s comeback, and chose the Santa Lucia, run over the track on which she trains daily. Beholder was supplemented to the stakes for $1,500.

Beholder worked seven furlongs in 1:27.60 on Saturday. Mandella finalized plans to supplement Beholder to the Santa Lucia following the workout.

The Santa Lucia is run over 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares and is restricted to non-winners of a graded stakes at a mile or over this year.

The race drew a field of seven, including Eblouissante, a half-sister to Zenyatta, the 2010 Horse of the Year.

Mandella said on Sunday that Beholder has trained well for the Santa Lucia.

“She won’t be ready for her very best, but this is a race that will move her forward,” he said. “I haven’t pushed her too hard in her works. She’s ready to get started. She does have room to improve.”

Mandella considers the Santa Lucia to be a prep race for the $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park on June 7.

“This gives us plenty of time for the other race,” Mandella said.

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, Beholder has won 8 of 12 starts and $3,075,000.