Three stars meet in Beholder Mile
ARCADIA, Calif. – The last six months have been easy for Vale Dori, who is on a six-race winning streak and will play a leading role in Saturday’s Grade 1 Beholder Mile for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
“Every time she ran, we knew we were going to watch her win,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “Now, we’re going in there and we’re hoping to win.”
Vale Dori’s streak includes five graded stakes. Even so, she does not have the best credentials among the five entrants in the $400,000 Beholder Mile, which is run on the main track. The race has two champions – Stellar Wind, the outstanding 3-year-old filly of 2015, and Finest City, the champion female sprinter of 2016.
The field has two longshots – the Baffert-trained Faithfully and Show Stealer – but the focus is on Finest City, Stellar Wind, and Vale Dori.
KEY CONTENDERS
Stellar Wind, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 94-99-110
◗ Stellar Wind lost a chance at the older-female championship of 2016 with a fourth-place finish after a slow start in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last November. Trained by John Sadler for Pete and Kosta Hronis, Stellar Wind won the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on April 14 in her only start this year.
The Apple Blossom and Beholder Mile have been planned for Stellar Wind for months, and the 5-year-old mare has been in peak form through the spring, Sadler said.
“I’m very happy with the horse,” Sadler said. “We expect her to jump forward in her second start back.”
◗ Race tactics will play a pivotal role, and Stellar Wind could be the beneficiary if Vale Dori and Finest City set a quick pace. Stellar Wind is likely to be in an advantageous stalking position under jockey Victor Espinoza.
“As far as the size of the field, I don’t worry about that too much,” Sadler said. “There’s nothing I can do there. We have a jockey who is going into the Hall of Fame. It’s up to him in regards to strategy.”
Vale Dori, by Asiatic Boy
Last 3 Beyers: 95-100-91
◗ Vale Dori’s win streak includes races at 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles. She won the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational on March 18 by 1 1/2 lengths over Finest City but was only a half-length winner against a lesser field in the Grade 3 Adoration Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on May 7.
Vale Dori stalked the pace in the Adoration, which was not the best plan, Baffert said.
“We took her back a bit,” Baffert said. “She needs to leave there running.”
◗ Vale Dori drew the rail in the Beholder Mile and will be on the pace, Baffert said.
“Unfortunately, we’ve got that other filly that is fast,” Baffert said, referring to Finest City. “It could set up for Sadler’s filly.”
Finest City, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 95-97-94
◗ Finest City won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs here last November to clinch her championship.
◗ Trained by Ian Kruljac, Finest City has never won a two-turn race but has run well on several occasions at a mile or longer, notably the runner-up finish to Vale Dori in the Santa Margarita at 1 1/8 miles. Last June, Finest City was third in the Vanity Mile, which has been renamed the Beholder Mile.
◗ Finest City drew post 4, which has left Kruljac thinking that jockey Mike Smith can watch Vale Dori early and respond in the opening strides.
“It will be up to Mike and what he feels underneath him,” Kruljac said. “I like the post. If she breaks sharp, he can let her go.
“She deserves her chance to go against the top. I wish it was a bigger field. I don’t think there will be any sneaking away. It all depends on how they come out of the gate.”
