Bolt d’Oro – Beholder filly makes big impression in Del Mar debut

Spendthrift Farm’s homebred filly Tamara turned in a very promising and professional debut race Saturday at Del Mar, coming home a 2 ¼-length winner in a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight affair for 2-year-olds.

As a daughter of Spendthrift’s top young sire Bolt d’Oro out of four-time champion Beholder, Tamara’s debut got plenty of attention. Drawn on the inside in the field of 10, the bay filly was off a beat slow, but steadily made up ground along the fence to get within 1 ½-lengths of pacesetter Hope Road entering the turn. Jockey Mike Smith held his spot patiently around the turn until just before entering the homestretch, when he guided Tamara off the rail to go around Hope Road.

Hope Road held stubbornly for a furlong, when Tamara wore her down and drew off to score decisively in 1:17.37 on a fast track.

The victory earned Tamara the coveted “TDN Rising Star” tag and a $49,200 payday for Spendthrift and trainer Richard Mandella.

Tamara is the fourth foal out of Beholder. Her 3-year-old filly Teena Ella won the Senorita S. (G3) earlier this year at Santa Anita. Earlier this month Beholder’s yearling colt sold for a sales-topping $4 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearlings sale.

Bolt d’Oro, the champion First-Crop sire of 2022, is having a banner 2023 with six stakes winners, 16 stakes horses and over $4.4 million in progeny earnings to date.