By Alan Carasso
Some eleven years after her multiple champion dam Beholder (Henny Hughes) was just nosed out of a victory, 'TDN Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) did her momma proud with a thoroughly dominating performance in the GI FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante on closing weekend at the seaside oval.
It was an effort that even exceeded the already lofty expectations of her Hall of Fame connections.
“She's been doing things in her training that 2-year-olds aren't supposed to do,” said her jockey Mile Smith. “She's really special. She's like her mother. You don't see that usually. Those great mares they normally don't have great foals. But this one might be. I just held on today. I didn't want to fall off. She was doing it all herself. What can I say. She's very special.”
Added trainer Richard Mandella: “I expected her to run good but that was a little beyond. Watching it, he [Smith] had so much horse he didn't want to restrict her. He just had her do what she wanted to do. She's very quick, so I thought he would put her right there [lay second and up close] and we both agreed to that, just see what everybody else does.”
Named in honor of the late B. Wayne Hughes's daughter, Tamara was the 31-10 second choice when debuting against the once-raced and well-regarded Hope Road (Quality Road–Marley's Freedom) Aug. 19, but overcame a stumbling start to graduate by a professional 2 1/4 lengths. The Debutante was the next logical spot, but only three weeks away, meaning there could be no hiccups if she was going to make the race. Tamara was back on the worktab Aug. 30, going three-eighths of a mile in a smart :36 2/5 (2/6) and she blew out three furlongs in :34 4/5 (1/18) Sept. 4, four ticks faster than stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Boltage (Bolt d'Oro), who goes in Sunday's GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf.
The 13-10 favorite was bumped soundly to her outside by 143-1 Motet (Mo Town), but immediately recovered from that to sit just off the early pace set by Cal-bred Pushiness (Kantharos). Knowing precisely what he had underneath him, Smith allowed Tamara to stride into the lead fully three furlongs from home, and the race was over from there for all intents and purposes. Well clear entering the stretch, Tamara lengthened her stride beautifully while scarcely asked for an effort and glided under the wire a comprehensive winner. Laurent (Practical Joke) stayed on into second ahead of Gate to Paradise (Arrogate) in third, neither in the same league as Tamara.
Pedigree Notes:
Tamara is the fourth foal out of Beholder and she is the year-younger half-sister to Teena Ella (War Front), who won the GIII Senorita S. in May. Beholder's yearling colt by Curlin topped last month's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale when selling for $4 million to Amr Zedan.
Tamara's deeper female family needs little introduction. Beholder, a $180,000 purchase by Spendthrift at Keeneland September in 2011, was bred by Clarkland Farm, who purchased dam Leslie's Lady for $100,000 in foal to Orientate at the 2006 Keeneland November Sale. Just over a year later, Into Mischief made that decision look good when taking out the GI CashCall Futurity for Hughes and Richard Mandella. Into Mischief has since gone on to become one of the most successful sires in the world, with 134 black-type winners to date.
By the time Leslie's Lady's Scat Daddy colt sold to Coolmore for a sales-topping price of $3 million at Keeneland September in 2016, Beholder had won 10 Grade Is and three Eclipse Awards before adding to both totals when going out a winner in a memorable renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Mendelssohn became a Breeders' Cup champion in his own right in the 2018 GI Juvenile Turf–at Del Mar–and is also off to a promising start at stud. Leslie's Lady is also the dam of Clarkland's 'TDN Rising Star' Marr Time (Not This Time).
Barren to Gun Runner for 2023, Beholder was bred back to Spendthrift's Jackie's Warrior this year.
TAMARA ($4.60)! How good is she?!?
Richard Mandella and @mikeesmith10 had this daughter of Bolt d'Oro (@spendthriftfarm) and Beholder in perfect condition for the $300,000 @FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante (G1) at @DelMarRacing.
Congrats to owner/breeder @spendthriftfarm! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/XnmLHdAa03
— TVG (@TVG) September 10, 2023
Saturday, Del Mar
FANDUEL RACING DEL MAR DEBUTANTE S.-GI, $303,500, Del Mar, 9-9, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:22.41, ft.
1–TAMARA, 120, f, 2, by Bolt d'Oro
1st Dam: Beholder (Ch. 2-year-old Filly, Ch. 3-year-old Filly, Ch. Older Mare, Ch. Older Mare, MGISW, $6,156,600), by Henny Hughes
2nd Dam: Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek
3rd Dam: Crystal Lady, by Stop the Music
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella; J-Mike E. Smith. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $229,200. *1/2 to Teena Ella (War Front), GSW, $128,740. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Laurent, 120, f, 2, by Practical Joke
1st Dam: She Rocks the Look, by Trappe Shot
2nd Dam: London Mist, by Afleet Alex
3rd Dam: Saratoga Cat, by Sir Cat
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($185,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Exline-Border Racing LLC, Burns Racing LLC, Aaron Kennedy, and Richard Hausman; B-Tim Thornton & Eric Buckley (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $60,000.
3–Gate to Paradise, 120, f, 2, by Arrogate
1st Dam: Heart of Paradise (GSP), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Paradise Playgirl, by Speightstown
3rd Dam: Bigger Half, by Megaturn
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($250,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $950,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich lll & John D. Fielding (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs. $36,000.
Margins: 6 3/4, 2 1/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 1.30, 7.50, 10.40.
Also Ran: Chatalas, Next Right Thing, Motet, Pushiness, Julias Dream, Benedetta, Pretty Layla, Hope Road, Cheeky Gal. Scratched: Dreamfyre, Where's My Ring.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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