Beholder out of Breeders' Cup Classic

Beholder has been scratched from the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Richard Mandella revealed the dual champion bled after exercising Thursday morning. The Hall of Fame trainer said the 5-year-old mare will be okay, but she won't be able to compete on Saturday.

Beholder came down with a slight fever after arriving at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. on October 19, missing a planned trip to the track the following day, but she quickly recovered and recorded a 5-furlong bullet work on Monday at Keeneland.

“After she galloped this morning we scoped her and found her to have bled,” Mandella said. “This was obviously due to the fever she had when she arrived. Knowing this, we feel it is too great a risk to start her in the Classic.

“There’s obviously some irritated lung tissue there. She will be fine, but if I put her under the pressure of a race situation, it could cause some real damage.

“You could say we just haven’t had any luck shipping, but it’s been something different every time. She’s an aggressive mare and just got herself worked up shipping and made herself sick.

“It’s sad. It’s exciting to take on a challenge like this. It’s still a great race. I just wish I was part of it.”

Unbeaten from five starts this year, Beholder was listed as the 3-1 second choice on the Classic morning line.