Teena Ella, a daughter of Hall of Fame mare Beholder, finds winning touch on turf

The 3-year-old filly Teena Ella will stay on turf for the foreseeable future after winning a six-furlong maiden race on the surface at Santa Anita last Sunday.

Trainer Richard Mandella warned on Thursday that Teena Ella is far from having reached her potential.

By War Front, Teena Ella is out of Beholder, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last summer. Beholder won 18 of 26 starts, 16 stakes, and earned $6,156,600. She raced from 2012-2016. Beholder was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012, 3-year-old filly of 2013, and older female of 2015 and 2016.

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Teena Ella, who races for owner and breeder Spendthrift Farm, finished sixth and third in maiden races at six furlongs on dirt in her first two starts. In Sunday’s race, Teena Ella closed from fourth in a field of nine to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

The turf “brought out the best in her,” Mandella said.

Mandella, who is spending this week scouting 2-year-olds in Florida, said Teena Ella’s development is continuing.

“It might take another race or two to get her education,” he said. “I think she’s still in the process.”

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