Beholder puts in return work

ARCADIA, Calif. – Beholder, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012 and champion 3-year-old filly of 2013, worked three furlongs in 36.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Tuesday, her first major exercise of an expected springtime comeback.

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes and trained by Richard Mandella, Beholder was sidelined with illness last October in the days before a scheduled start in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita. She was rested through the autumn before resuming training.

“She’s starting to come along,” Mandella said.

On Tuesday, the Mandella-trained Moulin de Mougin, who won the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar in August, worked three furlongs in 36.60 seconds. She was rested last fall after falling in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes when apparently clipping heels with a rival.

Mandella is hoping to have Beholder and Moulin de Mougin ready for races in April or May. On Tuesday, both mares worked alone.

“They’re just starting to come back,” he said. “We don’t want too much out of them yet.”