Kentucky Oaks: Beholder has final workout at Santa Anita

Beholder, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012, worked seven furlongs in 1:27.80 at Santa Anita on Thursday, her final workout before the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Trained by Richard Mandella, Beholder was ridden by Garrett Gomez and worked in company with a stablemate, starting a few lengths behind. Beholder ranged on the outside in the stretch and finished in front.

Mandella timed Beholder in 37 seconds for the final three furlongs. He said the structure of the workout was designed to give the speedy Beholder a target in the event that another runner takes an early lead in the Kentucky Oaks.

“We always work her that way, to prepare for any change,” Mandella said. “It was a nice steady breeze, and that’s what she got. I wasn’t looking for anything fast.”

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, Beholder has won 5 of 8 starts and $1,575,000. She has won 2 of 3 races this year, including two Grade 1 races at Santa Anita – the Las Virgenes Stakes over a mile on March 2 and the Santa Anita Oaks over 1 1/16 miles on April 6. In both races, Beholder led throughout.

Mandella said that Beholder will be sent to Churchill Downs on Saturday and will not have a workout there in advance of the race.