Beholder Will Not Compete in Breeders’ Cup Classic

Beholder Will Not Compete in Breeders’ Cup Classic: Two-time Eclipse Award champion Beholder, winner of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and 2013 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, has been declared from Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic after it was discovered she bled following her Thursday morning gallop. Beholder had been listed as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line behind favorite American Pharoah.

“After she galloped this morning we scoped her and found her to have bled,” said trainer Richard 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.

“You could say we just haven’t had any luck shipping, but it’s been something different every time. She’s an aggressive mare and just got herself worked up shipping and made herself sick.

“It’s sad. It’s exciting to take on a challenge like this. It’s still a great race. I just wish I was part of it.”

Source: Breeders’ Cup