Four-time Champion Beholder enters Hall of Fame

Spendthrift Farm’s brilliant filly Beholder became a member of the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame on her first year of eligibility at the induction ceremony held in Saratoga on Aug. 5.

“I’m not surprised. I think she made that impression on people with her record,” said Beholder’s trainer Bill Mott, a Hall of Famer himself. “She has done things that either not many or no horses have done. Fillies and mares running 1 1/4 miles under two minutes? I’m not saying none have, but I don’t know that many have. And to win a Grade 1 at 2-3-4-5 and 6, I think, speaks for itself.”

During her five seasons of competition with Mandella, Beholder won 18 of 26 starts. Thirteen of those victories were in graded stakes and 11 them Grade 1s. She won all three of her Breeders’ Cup starts, the 2012 GI Juvenile Fillies, and the GI Distaff in 2013 and 2016. Her Eclipse Awards came as the 2-year-old filly title in 2012, the 3-year-old filly crown in 2013, and older dirt female honors of 2015 and 2016.

At Del Mar in 2015, she beat males the GI Pacific Classic by a 8 1/4 lengths in 1:59.77, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 114, one of her six triple-digit figures.

“Well, the Pacific Classic was just breathtaking,” Mandella said. “And then the last race (2016 Breeders’ Cup Distaff), to beat that great mare that ran second of Mr. Porter’s, Songbird.”

Beholder was bred in Kentucky by Clarkland Farm and purchased by Spendthrift Farm at the 2011 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $180,000. Out of Leslie’s Lady, she is a half-sister to Spendthrift champion sire Into Mischief and Grade 1 winner Mendelssohn.

Beholder finished her career with a record of 18-6-0 in 26 starts and earned $6,156,600.