Beholder heads trio of elite females in Ogden Phipps

ELMONT, N.Y. – When people began referring to this Saturday’s card at Belmont Park as “Breeders’ Cup quality,” one of the first races usually mentioned was the Grade 1, $1 million Ogden Phipps.

That assessment can’t be too far off. The prospective field held together nicely when entries were drawn Wednesday, with Beholder, Princess of Sylmar, and Close Hatches all part of a field of six fillies and mares.

Beholder, already a two-time divisional champion, drew favorably in post 5 as the outside speed in the one-turn, 1 1/16-mile race. Gary Stevens has the mount on the 4-year-old Beholder, who has been pegged as the 7-5 morning-line favorite.

“I couldn’t be any happier with the way she’s coming into this,” said Richard Mandella, who trains Beholder for the Spendthrift Farm of B. Wayne Hughes.

Since defeating older mares in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last fall, Beholder has raced just once, easily winning a restricted stakes at Santa Anita in April.

“She had her rest, she had her prep, and she’s trained as well as I could hope,” said Mandella, who has been here for days to oversee final preparations. “I’m anxious to see how she runs Saturday.”

Princess of Sylmar (post 6, 9-5), trained by Todd Pletcher, also will be making her second start of the year after overmatching rivals in a small Aqueduct stakes in early April. The 4-year-old Princess of Sylmar is a confirmed closer who would stand to benefit from a duel between Beholder and Close Hatches.

Close Hatches (post 1, 5-2), trained by Bill Mott, might actually be the divisional leader in the clubhouse for 2014 after opening her season with sharp victories in the Grade 2 Azeri and Grade 1 Apple Blossom, both at Oaklawn Park.

From the rail and with riders, this is the field for the 46th Phipps: Close Hatches, Joel Rosario; Antipathy, Irad Ortiz Jr.; Belle Gallantey, Jose Ortiz; Classic Point, Alex Solis; Beholder, Stevens; and Princess of Sylmar, Javier Castellano.

The three favorites each carry 123 pounds.

Classic Point, trained by Allen Jerkens, looks best of the three longshots off an easy win at Gulfstream Park six weeks ago. One other would-be longshot, My Wandy’s Girl, was withdrawn from consideration because of a severe respiratory infection, according to trainer Mike Hushion.

The Ogden Phipps middles the 13-race card as the seventh race, with post time set for 3:14 p.m. Eastern.