Richard Mandella reported all was well with his Breeders’
Cup campaigners Sunday morning and that they all had earned a bit of vacation.
“They’ll all get some time off, one way or another,”
Mandella said. “I’d expect you’d probably see them all at the Santa Anita big
meet after Christmas. Jimmy Creed and Rumor will stay with me at the track.
Beholder probably will, too. Sometimes with young fillies you need to take them
away (from the track) and give them a break. But she’s big and strong and I’m
thinking she’ll probably stay here with us. If I see in a few days if she maybe
needs it, I’ve got several farms around here where I could send her.”
The trainer was especially proud of his 2yo filly Beholder,
who took her field wire-to-wire in Friday’s Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16m. He has
hopes of an Eclipse Award for her and thoughts of a 3yo filly prize like the
Kentucky Oaks. In the case of the 4yo filly Rumor, he noted that she is lightly
raced (just 12 starts) and that he has further plans for her next year. In the
case of his 3yo Jimmy Creed, he felt his Sprint effort was an additional
educational vehicle for all involved.
“He (Jimmy Creed) was down inside (post 2) and that dirt
started coming back and hitting him in the face again,” Mandella said. “When
that happened last time (Santa Anita Sprint Championship Oct 6 in which he ran
third), he started to back up. I thought that experience would suit him this
time, but he got even more dirt in his face Saturday and he just hated it. He’s
a nice colt, though, and I’ll give him a little bit of time off and then point
him for the Malibu (Dec. 26 at Santa Anita).”