Hollywood Park notes: Mandella plans for big March with Beholder, Setsuko, Indy Point

ARCADIA, Calif. – March could be a big month for trainer Richard Mandella. If all goes according to plan, Beholder will make her first start of 2014, Setsuko will try again to win the Santa Anita Handicap, and Indy Point will run in a lucrative race in Dubai.

While those three head in different directions short term, Mandella hopes all three end their campaigns next fall at Santa Anita. When asked to identify their long-term goals, Mandella cracked, “The Breeders’ Cup next year.” It is not that far-fetched.

Beholder crushed the BC Distaff in her final start at 3. After she had two easy weeks at Santa Anita, Mandella sent her to Peacefield Farm in Temecula, Calif.

“She’ll be there about a month, on the grass, and then we’ll bring her back,” Mandella said.

While a comeback race has not been identified, Mandella said she was likely to return to the races in March.

Indy Point, third in the BC Turf after winning the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship, will go international.

“Looking at Dubai,” Mandella said. “What I use for a prep to get there, I don’t know yet. He’s had a couple easy weeks. He’s still just jogging.”

Mandella will give Indy Point a prep race in January or February and said a specific Dubai race on March 29 has not been chosen. Options include the $10 million Dubai World Cup on synthetic at 1 1/4 miles, the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic on turf at 1 1/2 miles, and the $5 million Dubai Duty Free on turf at 1 1/8 miles.

“More than likely, grass [in Dubai],” Mandella said. “But he worked pretty good on the synthetic at Del Mar, so it makes me wonder if I should do that. More than likely, I’d go grass, and I’m not sure if I should go a mile and an eighth or a mile and a half. He can do either.”

Setsuko, the circuit’s most accomplished horse eligible for a second-level allowance, is nearing a Dec. 14 comeback in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park. Setsuko, 6, finished second in the Santa Anita Handicap in 2011 and 2012. He has not started since March 2012 due to a suspensory injury.

“We turned him out a long time, and now he’s ready to run again,” Mandella said. “He’s a gelding; he’ll be here forever.”

Setsuko has won two races and $656,486 from 18 starts.

Ismene retired at 4

The stakes-winning filly Ismene has been retired from racing, owner Steve Ferraro and trainer Bill Spawr said this week. The winner of the 2011 Anoakia and California Breeders’ Champion stakes as a 2-year-old, Ismene won three races and $236,990 from 10 starts. In her final start Nov. 2, she finished 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

“She’s going to retire sound, and she’s probably worth more as a broodmare,” Spawr said. “She’s probably lost a step.”

After missing her entire 3-year-old season in 2012, Ismene raced seven times as a 4-year-old in 2013. Though she did not win, she finished second four times, including three times in stakes.

Ferraro bred Ismene, a California-bred daughter of Tribal Rule, and plans to keep her as a broodmare. He has not chosen a stallion.

“She was an exciting filly, a wonderful filly,” Ferraro said. “She’s been so brilliant.”