Baffert hopes American Pharoah meets Beholder in breeding shed

The day after supermare Beholder trounced males in Del Mar's Pacific Classic (G1), superlatives, tributes, and various expressions of marvel continued to pour in from her connections and informed observers alike.

Racing fans everywhere have been discussing the mouthwatering prospect of Beholder possibly tackling Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the October 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland.

But American Pharoah's trainer, Bob Baffert, sounded as though he'd prefer that the two met in the breeding shed:

She was amazing. Simply amazing. I don't know about him (American Pharoah) running against her in Kentucky.  But I sure hope she's his first date down there next year.

Beholder's jockey Gary Stevens:

Yes, she did it (surging clear) on her own.
 
I've never felt anything like that and when we crossed under the finish line, I cried. I told Richard (Mandella) that and he said, 'I did too.'

I had 95 text messages when I came out of the jockeys room afterward and I spent a good part of the night answering them.

Between her and American Pharoah this is a great year for racing. Now we have to grab hold and go with it.

Beholder's Hall of Fame trainer, Richard Mandella, had a celebratory dinner at Rancho Valencia Resort and Hotel:

They've got a drink called the Bourbon Beast which I found very interesting. We had a great time.

She (Beholder) is tired this morning and she came out of it better than I did. Last night you could have run her again and she might have gone just as fast, she was feeling that strong. But this morning it hits her and she's tired.

Obviously a lot of windows are open, we have a lot of options. We'll take it a step at a time.

She'll run one more race before then (the Breeders' Cup) if it looks to me like it's needed. Fillies take a little more time to recuperate and we've got time now. The Zenyatta ([G1] versus fellow distaffers September 26 at Santa Anita) is a good possibility, probably likely, but we'll have to wait and see.

Craig Lewis, trainer of Grade 1 winner Warren's Veneda, who's placed behind Beholder in this summer's Adoration (G3) and Clement L. Hirsch (G1):

Her race was fantastic. Scary good. I think she's the best horse in the country right now. I don't know how we came within a length of her at Santa Anita (Adoration) while giving her weight.

I'm going to run wherever she doesn't. I hope she goes in the (Breeders' Cup) Classic because that gives me a better chance in the filly and mare (Distaff [G1]). If she goes in the Distaff, I might go in the Classic.

Retired trainer Laura de Seroux, who conditioned Hall of Famer Azeri:

That was spectacular. And it was so brilliant of Richard Mandella to pick such a great spot for her. I wanted to do something like that with Azeri but unfortunately a spot like that didn't come up…Azeri had a similar running style to Beholder, stalk and pounce, so it would be a tough call if they ran against each other.

People used to ask me about Zenyatta and Azeri and I'd just say it would have been interesting because they had totally opposite running styles.

Beholder photo courtesy of Benoit.