Beholder puts in another easy work

ARCADIA, Calif. – Beholder, the three-time champion, moved closer to her 2016 debut in early May with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 at Santa Anita on Friday.

Ridden by Gary Stevens, Beholder began behind a stablemate, and the pair caught two runners from another stable in early stretch who had started several lengths in front. The quartet ran through the stretch together, but Beholder was the only one of the four to have her work recognized as “breezing,” meaning it was done very easily.

Beholder is likely to have her first start of 2016 in the $100,000 Adoration Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles here May 8, trainer Richard Mandella said. He described the workout as “terrific.”

Mandella’s son Gary, a trainer, watched the workout with his father. Gary Mandella timed Beholder running the first three furlongs in 36.16 seconds and finishing five furlongs in 1:00.19.

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, Beholder has won 15 of 20 starts and earned $4,436,600. She was the champion older female of 2015, a campaign highlighted by a win against males in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August.