McPeek following proven formula in Beholder Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sending one of his top female runners across the country to begin her campaign with Robby Albarado in tow worked out well for trainer Kenny McPeek last year with Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile. So, McPeek is going right back to the well with Envoutante for this year’s Beholder Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita.

There are a few differences. Swiss Skydiver was a winner of the postponed Preakness the prior fall. Envoutante, though much accomplished, is still in search of her first Grade 1 win. Swiss Skydiver also has since been retired. So too Albarado, from an accomplished riding career that saw him win 5,222 races. But Albarado, who rode Swiss Skydiver in both the Preakness and the Beholder Mile, is now working for McPeek, accompanying Envoutante on this trip as her exercise rider.

There are some similarities, too. Once again, McPeek’s main obstacle is As Time Goes By, who was second in last year’s Beholder Mile in her stakes debut but since has won four graded stakes.

Envoutante and As Times Goes By are among six who were entered in the $500,000 race, which goes as race 9 of 11. No more than five will compete; Moonlight d'Oro was scratched Thursday.

Envoutante is making her first start since a six-length romp in the Grade 2 Falls City Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs, her second straight win in that race. She has been training at Gulfstream Park.

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“She’s a total pro, real easy to be around, a real professional mare,” McPeek said. “A Grade 1 has been elusive. She’s faced some toughies.”

Indeed, her four prior Grade 1 races were won by Letruska, Shedaresthedevil, Swiss Skydiver, and Speech.

Brian Hernandez Jr. is her regular rider, but he’s riding McPeek-trained Rattle N Roll in the Fountain of Youth on Saturday at Gulfstream. McPeek found a fairly decent sub in John Velazquez.

The fundamental things apply with As Time Goes By, who has a pace and home-field advantage compared to Envoutante. As Time Goes By, drawn in post 3, has never finished worse than second in seven tries at Santa Anita. She has won her last two starts, both with Flavien Prat, who is back aboard.

As Time Goes By romped in the Grade 3 La Canada on Jan. 1 when last seen in the afternoon, but she’s worked well in the interim. In her final drill last Saturday, she was timed in 59.40 seconds for five furlongs while appearing, on the XBTV video, to be going far easier than stablemate Varda.

“She worked beautiful. She’s done well with the extra time,” said her trainer, Bob Baffert.

Varda was last seen winning the Grade 1 Starlet 15 months ago at Los Alamitos. This is a tough spot in which to return. “She’s got no allowance conditions,” Baffert said.

Miss Bigly returns to this circuit after winning the Grade 3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park last month.

Founder’s Day, 1 for 12 lifetime, was supplemented in the hope of picking up Grade 1 black type in the event of a small field.