June 1, 2016 
We are still a week and a half away from the Festival de Belmont Stakes, but fortunately, we need not wait that long to feast our eyes upon the greatest show in the game.
That’s right…Beholder is back.
The 6-year-old mare is all set to fire in Saturday’s Grade I Vanity Mile Stakes at Santa Anita in her second start of the season. And by ready to fire, we mean ready. to. freaking. fire. Here she is on May 25, breezing 5 furlongs in a 59.40 bullet.
.@Beholder_Mare worked 5F in 59.40 @santaanitapark in preparation for the Vanity. Full Video https://t.co/TKhN1zRbmr pic.twitter.com/o0w0HkRDgM
— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) May 25, 2016
That is greatness in a half-ton bay package. What else can you expect from a three-time Eclipse Award winner seeking her 17th win in 22 tries, and her 8th in a row? The only real surprise is that she is still out there competing, but clearly she’s as fit and fast as ever. And apparently just as hungry.
Every champion craves the sweet taste of victory. What’s Beholder’s secret? #PeppermintPower pic.twitter.com/6fxMbu8Vyq
— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) June 1, 2016
The Queen will face a short field on Saturday, no surprise there, but it is by no means a coronation. She’ll be knocking strides with a pair of Grade I winners in John Sadler’s Stellar Wind, the reigning champion 3-year-old filly last seen losing a head-bob in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and (potentially) Taris, who will try to follow up an impressive win in the Humana Distaff on Derby Day at Churchill Downs.
But make no mistake, if Beholder is right, they’ll be dueling for second.
John Sadler on Stellar Wind in Vanity: "There's a lot of things we like about the race–except Beholder."
— Jeremy Balan (@BH_JBalan) June 1, 2016
Win or lose, it’s just a joy to watch her go. No one would have blamed owner B. Wayne Hughes if he had opted to shut his champion down and have her in foal for 2016, even though it would be like stripping down a Ferrari and using it as a golf cart. We all love when the little guy finds a great horse, but it’s also fantastic when billionaires can afford to keep transcendent talent in training.
Hughes and trainer Richard Mandella have made no secret they hope to send this brilliant mare off into the sunset with a go in the Breeders’ Cup Classic here at Santa Anita in the fall, which could put her up against the like of California Chrome, Nyquist, Exaggerator, just to name a few. It’s a ridiculously delicious prospect and it’s ridiculously foolish to look that far ahead in this game but we are admittedly foolish.
For now, we will just have to settle for 8 furlongs of pure, pepperminted poetry.
Vanity Mile Stakes (GI)
Santa Anita Park
Saturday, June 4
Post Time: 5pm (PT)
