Beholder sports BC Classic saddle towel in gallop at Keeneland

Edited Press Release

B. Wayne Hughes’ Beholder, sporting the first Breeders’ Cup saddle towel seen this week at Keeneland, made her first appearance on the main track Thursday morning galloping once around under exercise rider Janeen Painter.

The five-year-old mare was pre-entered to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), but has first preference in the Classic.

Beholder, who had an elevated temperature Tuesday morning, came on the track at the Beard Course chute and went straight off down the backside. After going once around, the daughter of Henny Hughes returned to her barn on Rice Road and walked the shedrow under Painter for about 20 minutes.

“Things are a lot better today than they were two days ago,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “It was just a simple gallop this morning. We’re back in the game.”

Beholder, who has had two five-furlong breezes at Santa Anita since winning repeating in the Zenyatta (G1) for the third straight year on September 26, is scheduled for one work at Keeneland before the October 31 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“I am not sure when she will have a little breeze,” Mandella shrugged. “We will let her tell us. We came here ready to run.”

Beholder was one of the first horses to move into the designated Breeders’ Cup barn area on Rice Road and Mandella is a big fan of his star runner’s accommodations.

“This is a great setting back here to train horses,” Mandella said. “It was very well thought out and these barns are great.”

As for how Mandella has bounced back from the concerns of Tuesday morning, the eight-time Breeders’ Cup winner smiled broadly and said, “I’m ready to run!”

Beholder photos courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Photography