Mandella pleased with Beholder's first breeze

[bc_video_id:378221:]ARCADIA, Calif. – The first workout of Beholder’s comeback woke her up Tuesday at Santa Anita, according to trainer Richard Mandella.

Beholder worked three furlongs in 36.60 seconds, her first breeze of the year as she prepares for a 6-year-old campaign expected to begin June 4 in the Grade 1 Vanity.

“It’s just a matter of starting to build her up a little bit,” Mandella said. The work accomplished more than that.

“It wound her up,” Mandella said. “She’s been quiet; that [work] was all she needed. It brought it all back.”

Mandella returned to the barn Tuesday evening to walk Beholder and said she was full of her feisty self, in a good way.

The challenge for Mandella is training Beholder through rain expected in the days ahead.

“There are supposed to be a lot of storms coming in. We’re going to avoid the rain,” he said. “We’ll work her to avoid the storms.”

Beholder could work an easy three furlongs again Saturday; rain is expected Saturday night or Sunday morning.

Beholder has won 15 races and $4,436,600 from 20 starts and earned Eclipse Awards as 2012 champion 2-year-old filly, 2013 champion 3-year-old filly, and 2015 champion older female. She is owned by B. Wayne Hughes.

On Wednesday, Mandella watched a video of Beholder’s workout recorded by his son, trainer Gary Mandella. The senior Mandella had a huge grin on his face while watching the video.

“We’re back in the game,” he said.