Santa Anita: Beholder works half-mile preparing for Kentucky Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. - Beholder, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012 and the winner of two Grade 1 stakes this year, worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday.

The workout was the first for Beholder since her win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 6, and the first of two works at her home track before she is shipped to Churchill Downs at the end of this month for the Kentucky Oaks on May 3.

Trained by Richard Mandella, Beholder worked alone and was not asked for much of an effort by exercise rider Nestor Capitaine. Mandella timed Beholder in 50 seconds for the half-mile workout, which began three furlongs from the finish line and continued one furlong into the clubhouse turn.

Mandella insisted that he was not looking for a speedy workout.

“Next week, we’ll do something nice,” Mandella said. “I’m trying to fill the tank back up, not drain it. She can work fast if you want her to.”

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, Beholder has won 5 of 8 starts and $1,575,000. She won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November and the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes here on March 2.