Soothsay works a bullet; targeting Beholder Mile in March

Soothsay, the winner of two graded stakes for 3-year-old fillies in 2021, is in advanced training for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on March 5.

Soothsay has not raced since winning the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks at 1 1/16 miles at Indiana Grand last July. An autumn campaign was canceled after Soothsay was diagnosed with a splint bone injury while under consideration for the Grade 1 Cotillon Stakes at Parx Racing in September.

Thursday at Santa Anita, Soothsay worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, the fastest of 26 works at the distance.

“She’s getting fitter and fitter and looking good,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “She’s doing well.”

The $500,000 Beholder Mile is the richest dirt race of the year in California for fillies and mares.

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“I think she prefers it,” Mandella said of the Beholder Mile distance.

Owned by Raydelz Stables, Soothsay has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $431,800. She won the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks last April and was second in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks last May. Both races are 1 1/16 miles.

The Beholder Mile is one of six graded stakes on the March 5 program, which includes the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap for older horses and the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds.