Swiss Skydiver, Harvest Moon head straight to the deep end in Beholder Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – For unrecognized fillies and mares on their way up, it makes sense to wade gradually into deeper waters, a race at a time. Others, already established, can dive back into the deep end of the distaff division without a prep.

Swiss Skydiver and Harvest Moon will employ the bold, second approach Saturday at Santa Anita, when they make their first starts of the year as favorites in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile. The $300,000 race would be an ambitious spot for an average filly.

But neither Swiss Skydiver nor Harvest Moon is average. Swiss Skydiver already is a champion – the outstanding 3-year-old filly of 2020 – after winning five graded stakes, including the Preakness and Santa Anita Oaks. Harvest Moon developed into California’s top dirt-route female last year by winning four straight, including two graded stakes.

The challenge for Swiss Skydiver and Harvest Moon is inactivity. Neither has raced since the Breeders’ Cup Distaff four months ago. And though the 4-year-old fillies are the most accomplished in the Beholder field, another who is steadily improving and racing-fit threatens to upset – As Time Goes By. A lightly raced filly produced by superior race mare and broodmare Take Charge Lady, As Time Goes By trounced an entry-level allowance by nine lengths to warrant a shot at the Beholder.

Sanenus, an authoritative six-length winner last out in the Grade 3 La Canada, would have been a contender but will be scratched after tying up.

:: Get Brad Free’s Betting Strategies for Saturday’s card at Santa Anita

Eight fillies and mares entered the Beholder, race 8 on a card that includes the Grade 3 San Simeon for turf sprinters, race 7. In addition to the Beholder principals, the field includes Clockstrikestwelve, Golden Principal, This Tea, and Miss Stormy D.

Swiss Skydiver arrived Tuesday in California, fully recovered from cuts and scrapes she sustained when she stumbled and was eliminated in the BC Distaff. She finished seventh.

“She scraped herself up pretty bad, from the back of her ankle all the way to the back of her pastern,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “But we got it cleaned up, and she’s fine.”

Swiss Skydiver is so fine that she worked five furlongs last weekend at Gulfstream Park in a blazing 58 seconds.

“Her work was pretty incredible,” McPeek said. Fitness is not a worry.

“I’m more concerned with the mile” distance, McPeek said. “I think she wants a little further.”

Robby Albarado rides Swiss Skydiver, who must somehow orchestrate a trip from the inside post. The filly has won six races and $1,845,480 from 12 starts and is proven in California. She won the Santa Anita Oaks last spring.

Harvest Moon also was compromised in the Distaff. From post 2, jockey Flavien Prat was forced to use her early to press and set the pace. Considering that pace rivals Ollie’s Candy and Lady Kate finished eighth and 10th, Harvest Moon ran super to finish fourth.

Simon Callaghan trains Harvest Moon. If she gets beat, Callaghan will not blame the layoff.

“She’s come back really good,” he said. “She’s a good work filly at home, and I think she’s the type of filly that can fire a really big shot straight off the bat in a Grade 1.”

Harvest Moon, 4 for 6, drew post 3. Upset candidate Sanenus drew post 4, As Time Goes By post 6.

As Time Goes By is the least experienced and best-bred filly in the field. Bob Baffert trains the two 2-for-4 American Pharoah filly who is a sibling to Grade 1 winners Will Take Charge and Take Charge Indy. She did not debut until summer of her 3-year-old season, last August.

“She’s a really big, tall filly, I just took my time with her,” Baffert said.

As Time Goes By sprinted three times, then exploded around two turns. As Times Goes By won an entry-level allowance mile by nine lengths with a 99 Beyer.

“I wish this was further, she wants a mile and an eighth,” Baffert said, which is opposite of Baffert’s second runner. “I’m not sure how far [Golden Principal] wants to run,” he said.