Beholder gets tentative thumbs-up for Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – After watching Beholder breeze five furlongs in 59 seconds here Wednesday, trainer Richard Mandell said she is likely to start in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 20.

“There’s no reason not to do it from what I’ve seen so far,” Mandella said shortly after the workout.

If Beholder starts, the Pacific Classic would be the first matchup between the three-time champion mare and Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year and the winner of the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year.

Beholder won the 2015 Pacific Classic. A 6-year-old, Beholder won the Grade 1 Vanity Mile for fillies and mares over the champion Stellar Wind at Santa Anita on June 4 but lost to that filly in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares here July 30.

Mandella had taken a cautious approach to Beholder’s participation in the Pacific Classic since the Clement L. Hirsch and said Wednesday he will watch Beholder’s enthusiasm in daily exercise in the coming days before making a final decision on whether she starts.

“If she shows signs of regression, I’ll realize it’s too much,” he said. “I don’t have to do anything. I don’t have to decide today.”

On Wednesday, Beholder worked in company with a stablemate. According to Del Mar clockers, she ran the opening quarter-mile in 23.20 seconds and a half-mile in 46.20. Beholder galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40.

Mandella said he plans another workout for Beholder on Monday or Tuesday that will not be as strenuous as Wednesday’s.

“It will be easy, not much,” he said. “Last time, I did [a strong workout] before the race, and I didn’t like the result.”

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, Beholder has won 17 of 23 starts and earned $4,796,600. She was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012, champion 3-year-old filly of 2013, and champion older female last year.

Beholder is the only female among the probable starters for the Pacific Classic, which is run at 1 1/4 miles on dirt. California Chrome will be favored following his wins in the Dubai World Cup and the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 23.

Other probable starters are Dortmund and Win the Space, who were second and third in the San Diego Handicap; Dalmore, a 3-year-old who won the Grade 3 Affirmed Sakes at Santa Anita on July 2; Hard Aces, who won the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap on July 24; War Story, who was 16th in the 2015 Kentucky Derby; and Hoppertunity, who was third in the Dubai World Cup and fourth in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 25.