Multiple champion Beholder (Henny Hughes), who would have likely been second choice behind American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic, will miss the race after a scope Thursday morning revealed the presence of blood. Beholder had come down with a shipping fever earlier this week, but had reportedly bounced back and was doing well until Thursday's announcement by trainer Richard Mandella.
“After she galloped this morning we scoped her and found her to have bled,” said Mandella. “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.”
Beholder, who won the 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff in California en route to champion 3-year-old filly honors, was forced to miss last year's title defense after spiking a fever.
“You could say we just haven't had any luck shipping, but it's been something different every time,” Mandella said. “She's an aggressive mare and just got herself worked up shipping and made herself sick.”
A winner of her last six starts, including a smashing success against the boys in the GI Pacific Classic S. at Del Mar and an easy win in Santa Anita's GI Zenyatta S. Sept. 26, the Spendthrift colorbearer is expected to race again next year.
“It's sad,” Mandella added. “It's exciting to take on a challenge like this. It's still a great race. I just wish I was part of it.”
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