Mandella: Beholder's fever likely reaction to cross-country travel

A lung scan on Beholder was “pristine,” trainer Richard Mandella said Tuesday afternoon, giving him hope that the minor temperature she spiked Tuesday morning at Keeneland was merely caused by shipping the prior day from California.

Still, Mandella emphasized that he would leave “no stone unturned” in making sure nothing more serious is amiss with Beholder. At this point, though, the hope is that this is a minor hiccup.

However, with Beholder having had ill-timed fevers in the past, and since she is being prepared for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31, the reason for concern is obvious.

“She had a little temperature," Mandella said by telephone from Kentucky. "Her blood work shows that she had a little stress reaction from the ship. We did an ultrasound on her lungs and they’re clear. One just hopes it’s just a little temperature caused by the ship.

“We’ll go easy with her for a few days and go from there. We’ll hope for the best. We scanned her lungs and the vet said they were pristine. That’s the good news.”

Beholder flew to Kentucky from California on Monday, arriving at Keeneland midday.

Beholder is a two-time Eclipse Award winner and a two-time Breeders’ Cup winner. She faced males once previously, this summer at Del Mar, capturing the Pacific Classic. She won the Zenyatta at Santa Anita in last start. Beholder, 5, has won 15 times in 20 starts and is unbeaten in five starts this year.