Mandella makes BC Classic plans for Beholder

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Richard Mandella was formulating plans Saturday at Santa Anita for stable star Beholder and potential star Lucky Folie, a 2-year-old filly who won her debut impressively Sept. 6 at Del Mar.

Beholder, who will take on American Pharoah and other males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31, will ship to Keeneland on Oct. 19, Mandella said. He said Beholder will work twice more at Santa Anita before flying to Kentucky and will have her final work for the BC Classic at Keeneland.

Beholder’s only prior start against males was at Del Mar in the Pacific Classic, which she won in a runaway.

On Saturday, Lucky Folie worked six furlongs with the older male sprinter Forest Chatter and more than held her own while timed in 1:13.40. Mandella said he was strongly considering running her on turf next Saturday in the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita, with the idea she then could move on to the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Mandella bypassed the Chandelier Stakes on Sept. 27 because he didn’t want to stretch out Lucky Folie only three weeks after a debut sprint win. She’s ready to go now, Mandella said, but the timing means trying the turf.

“Now I’ve had more time to work with her and get her to settle,” Mandella said.

Lucky Folie, a daughter of Distorted Humor, got an 85 Beyer Speed Figure going 5 1/2 furlongs in her debut win. The victory was flattered by runner-up Bellamentary, who came back to win going two turns Thursday.

One of Lucky Folie’s rivals is expected to be Del Mar stakes winner Jakaby Jade, who worked a half-mile in 48 seconds Saturday morning for trainer Doug O’Neill.

** Also working Saturday was Iron Fist, the Pennsylvania Derby runner-up, who went a half-mile in 47.60 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.