Santa Anita notes: Nesso taking Breeders’ Cup shot

ARCADIA, Calif. - Nesso, second to Clenor in Sunday’s Surfer Girl Stakes, will give trainer Vann Belvoir his first Breeders’ Cup runner in the $1 million BC Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 1.

A former jockey and leading trainer in Washington, Belvoir, 39, said Nesso earned a spot in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf for her effort in Sunday’s race and a second to Clenor in the Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Sept. 2.

“I think we’ll take a shot at it,” he said. “It will be exciting.”

Nesso was fifth and then fourth for the first half-mile of the Surfer Girl Stakes before taking the lead on the turn. She led by a length at the eighth pole before finishing three-quarters of a length behind Clenor.

“I liked that she settled and was able to make a run,” Belvoir said. “I liked the way she finished. It seems like she doesn’t give up. We should move forward off that race.”

Belvoir said that Nesso had an abscess in a foot in September and missed a workout.

Beholder has first breeze back

Beholder, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012 and a leading contender for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1, breezed a half-mile in 39.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Tuesday. The workout was her first since winning the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes here Sept. 28.

Fed Biz, who won the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 25, worked a half-mile in 50.60. He is a candidate for the $1 million BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 1.