Beholder works seven furlongs, nearing return

ARCADIA, Calif. - Beholder, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2013, worked seven furlongs in 1:27.60 at Santa Anita on Saturday, moving closer to her 2014 debut.

Trainer Richard Mandella timed Beholder in 1:27.

“It was a nice, easy cruise,” Mandella said. “She galloped out a mile. We’re getting closer.”

Beholder, who was also the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012, has not raced since winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita last November. Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, Beholder has won 8 of 12 starts and $3,075,000.

Beholder won 5 of 7 starts last year, ending the year with three consecutive wins. She won the Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar last August and the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita last September before her BC Distaff win.

“She looks just like she did last year,” Mandella said.

Mandella said he has not finalized a race for Beholder, with options that include the $300,000 La Troienne Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on May 2, or the $100,000 Wilshire Stakes over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on April 27. Beholder has never raced on turf.

Imperative, second in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 8, worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Saturday. Imperative races for KM Racing Enterprise.

Trained by George Papaprodromou, Imperative is being pointed for the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia next Saturday. In his most recent start, Imperative finished seventh to Game On Dude in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 8. Game On Dude is a candidate for the Charles Town Classic, a race he won in 2013.