Beholder went within a nose of claiming a Group 1 first for Rangeview Stud sire Henny Hughes last Saturday but she can make amends when it counts in the Breeders’ Cup come November.
Beholder (2f Henny Hughes – Leslie’s Lady by Tricky Creek) took command in the G1 Del Mar Debutante and held a clear advantage until she was nailed in the last stride by Bob Baffert’s unbeaten filly Executiveprivilege.
“I knew Beholder was setting fast fractions but she was comfortable,” jockey Garrett Gomez said. “I sure would have liked it if that winner had run up alongside me instead of being so far out there. I think it would have given my filly a competitive jolt and that would have been enough. But she ran great.”
Beholder is prepared by Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella for Spendthrift Farm. She will start again at Santa Anita next month in preparation for a rematch with Executiveprivilege in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Baffert complimented both fillies. “Beholder had a really good lead and I thought Executiveprivilege had her work cut out. She really had to dig down. My wife Jill is pretty good at judging finishes and she thought we got beat.
“My filly is gutsy and so is the second filly. They really separated themselves.”
The Del Mar result was part of another big week for Henny Hughes who has now sired 127 winners of 245 races at a very effective 59% strike-rate.
Henny Hughes is in elite company among the Top 10 sires in the North American third-crop premiership this year. He has sired the winners of $3.08 million and is currently running seventh behind Bernardini, Flower Alley, War Front, Sharp Humour, First Samurai and Bluegrass Cat.
The latest updates have helped build up his first Sunspeed book at Rangeview Stud. “He’s had another five winners and added more black-type this week,” Rangeview’s Robert Gray said on Friday. “He sired a double at Delaware on Wednesday and then had another maiden winner in New York on Thursday.”
Teahupoo (3g Henny Hughes – Most Remarkable by Marquetry) missed the kick in a 1600m maiden at Finger Lakes on Thursday and was then blocked for a run in the straight. Angled into the clear, he flew home to score by a head. The first two finished some 8 lengths ahead of the rest.
Teahupoo was bred by Overbrook Farm and cost $145,000 as a foal at the 2009 Keeneland November Sale. He is a three-quarter brother to Saratoga stakes winner Remarkable Remy (Hennessy).
Henny Hughes is filling fast at Rangeview with mares the calibre of Unsettled (dam of Settle Strada), Calico Blue (LR Jungle Dawn Classic), Beautiful Bon Bon (LR Crawford Stakes), Graceton (dam of SW Keyton Grace and SW Shock Value), Dance Hi (dam of unbeaten SW Barakey), Communique (dam of SW For Your Eyes Only), Conamore (dam of SW Danecay) and Outward Display (dam of G3 winner and G1 placed Poor Judge).
Henny Hughes is standing for a $7,700 service fee at Rangview Stud. Broodmare owners can contact Robert Gray on 0409 243 461 or Jody Gray on 0418 933 707.
– Karl Patterson
BEHOLDER
Henny Hughes filly (rails) run down by Executiveprivilege at Del Mar