Hard Not to Love tops expected field for Beholder Mile

After finishing second in the San Felipe and third in the Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday, trainer John Shirreffs will re-load for this Saturday’s major stakes race at Santa Anita, when he sends out Hard Not to Love in the Grade 1, $400,000 Beholder Mile for older females.

Hard Not to Love will stretch out around two turns for the first time in the Beholder Mile following victories in the Grade 1 La Brea and Grade 2 Santa Monica this meet, both at seven furlongs.

Ollie’s Candy, last seen finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, is scheduled to make her first start of the year in the Beholder Mile for trainer John Sadler, for whom she won the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch last summer at Del Mar. She worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds on Saturday, the fastest time of 57 at the distance.

Kaydetre, Queen Bee to You, and Zusha also are expected for the race. Der Lu and Mother Mother are possible.

Also Saturday is the Grade 2, $100,000 San Simeon, a 5 1/2-furlong turf stakes for older horses that will mark the 2020 debut of Cistron, last seen winning the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar. Like Ollie’s Candy, he is trained by Sadler.

Sunday’s feature, the $100,000 Irish O’Brien for California-bred females, also is at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. With only eight nominations, a small field is likely, headed by Stealthediamonds and Just Grazed Me, the one-two finishers in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on Jan. 18.

► A celebration of life will be held for trainer Henry Moreno on Thursday, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., in the director's room at Santa Anita. Moreno died Feb. 23 at age 90.