Free's review: Beholder bigger and badder

Sunday, April 20 review

BETTER BEHOLDER

Beholder was expected to win her 2014 debut on Sunday at Santa Anita. The $75,000 Santa Lucia, race 8, was easy. Beholder ($2.20) won by more than five, geared down. “Poetry in motion,” was track announcer Trevor Denman’s accurate description.

The San Lucia field got softer after Magic Union scratched. It did not matter. Beholder would have romped regardless and humiliated bettors, including yours truly, who thought that Magic Union could upset Beholder.

Beholder is better this year and poised for a super season. Not because she won her comeback over soft foes with a 98 Beyer. It is because she is stronger and more robust than last year when her Breeders’ Cup Distaff romp clinched a second championship – outstanding 2-year-old filly of 2012, outstanding 3-year-old filly of 2013.

A day after her Santa Lucia comeback, trainer Richard Mandella reflected on Beholder’s 3-year-old campaign. He admitted he was worried before the Breeders’ Cup. It was a long season. Despite a summer rest, Beholder showed signs of fatigue in fall.

“She scared us to death,” Mandella said. “She kept eating, and was training, and seemed happy. But she lost what looked like 50 pounds in the two weeks going in, and her hair turned up.”

Beholder did not look her best, but she sure ran like it. On her home track, Beholder won the Distaff by more than four lengths, leaving Close Hatches and Princess of Sylmar reeling. Mandella and Beholder’s owner B. Wayne Hughes breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“I ran her, and she ran her eyes out, but she was one of the biggest scares I have ever had in my life,” Mandella said. “If it was an allowance race, I’d say leave her alone, don’t run her today. We’ll wait for the next one.”

Beholder ran, she crushed, and her season was done. Days after the Distaff, Mandella saw clearly what his gut was telling him – Beholder desperately needed a break.

“We took her grain down so she wouldn’t go nuts, and within a week, boy, she really looked tired,” Mandella said. “I had never seen her tired – ever. Compare her Breeders’ Cup pictures; she was bigger [at 2]. That’s the reason I gave her such a [long] rest. She was tired.”

After five months off, Beholder returned bigger, stronger and wider. “She looks better now, than she did,” Mandella said. “The Phipps will be her next start, in six weeks. I don’t have to rush.”

The Belmont Stakes is June 7 at Belmont, but it will not overshadow the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps expected to include Beholder, Princess of Sylmar and Close Hatches. The locals will need to be ready, because Beholder is a better filly this year than last.

So, in the Phipps, who do you like?

TRAINER TITLE

Hear the Ghost led at the eighth pole in race 3; Husband's Folly led at the eighth pole in race 9. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer would have won his first outright Southern California training title had either held in the 1 1/4-mile turf races.

But like other recent Hollendorfer trainees, Hear the Ghost and Husband’s Folly did not sustain their run. Both finished second behind John Sadler trainees – Stoney Fleece (claimed by Jack Carava for $62,500) in race 3, and Bench Light in race 9.

“We got a kick out of that – in the stretch, in front, both times,” Sadler said. His two wins tied him for the meet title with Hollendorfer.

Hollendorfer (155 starters) and Sadler (167) each won 34 races. It took an unusually cold streak from the Hollendorfer stable to allow Sadler to dead heat. The final three weeks, Hollendorfer was 1 for 27, with six seconds. Sadler went 4 for 28.

Bob Baffert finished third, with 33 wins and a 27 percent win rate. Ron Ellis won 17 races from 60 starters; his 28 percent rate was the top win rate among the 15 leading trainers. Doug O’Neill was 23 for 212, a 10 percent rate that was the lowest among the top 30 trainers.

RACE-3 FOLLOW

Abbey Vale was hammered by bettors in race 3, starting as the 1.30-1 favorite in the second-level allowance/optional $62,500 claiming race. Impressive winner of U.S. debut, he was pulled up soon after the start. His ride home was in the horse ambulance.

The following day, assistant trainer Mike Mitchell said Abbey Vale was walking fine.

“If it was really bad, he wouldn’t be able to walk,” Mitchell said. “We’ll nuclear scan him to make sure, and then kick him out.”

Mitchell, who reversed roles with former assistant-now-trainer Phil D’Amato, said jockey Rafael Bejarano thought the horse might have hit the gate coming out.

“Rafael said he warmed up great, but right out of the gate he did something.”

FLASHY MAIDEN

Suzy Malibu received minimal wagering attention in race 4, yet the 3-year-old filly scored a powerful debut win for O’Neill. Suzy Malibu ($15.40) broke last in the maiden sprint, steadied and was shuffled back into the turn, rallied wide, and ran away by more than five lengths. Her Beyer came back only 78, which is hardly relevant considering her trip. She overcame trouble and won going away. It was a smashing debut.

The win was a reminder that indifferent comments by workout analysts should not be taken as gospel, particularly when the trainer and jockey are O’Neill and Mike Smith. They are a force. Suzy Malibu made it 8 for 17 at the meet for the duo. Conversely, O’Neill’s meet win rate with horses not ridden by Smith was 7.6 percent (15 for 195).

Alexis Tangier, a Tiznow filly out of stakes-winner/producer Cambiocorsa, ran well to finish second. She can improve for Richard Mandella, while a horrible start for third-place finisher Enchanted Fortunate gives her an alibi. She can improve.

The disappointments were this handicapper’s choice Spy Girl (fifth), and favorite Faith Hope Love (sixth). Faith Hope Love is trained by Hollendorfer, whose end-of-meet cold snap did not overshadow his outstanding 21-for-48 meet record with favorites.

2 CLAIMS, 1 VOID

Race-9 winner Bench Light was claimed in a five-way shake by O’Neill for $25,000; runner-up Husband’s Folly was claimed by Carava. Hawk’s Eyes was claimed by Richard Baltas, but the claim was voided when he was “off” in the receiving barn. Hawk’s Eyes was returned to trainer A.C. Avila.

Horses to Watch

ALEXIS TANGIER

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Last race: April 20, 4th

Finish: 2nd by 5 1/4

Beyer: 63

No match for the winner, this Tiznow filly finished a creditable second and should improve for an outfit that generally races its stock into shape.

ENCHANTED FORTUNE

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Last race: April 20, 4th

Finish: 3rd by 6

Beyer: 61

A 3-year-old filly making her career debut, she broke poorly, made a middle move, then went evenly after losing all chance early. She can win next out with a clean start.

SAFETY BELT

Trainer: Ron McAnally

Last race: April 20, 7th

Finish: 1st by 1 1/4

Beyer: 92

Second start in the U.S., this Group 1-placed import from Argentina ran away with a smart score in a second-level allowance on the downhill course. He can handle a class jump and any distance up to a mile.