by Jessica Martini & Alan Carasso
Just under two weeks after her yearling by Curlin lit up the ring at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) enjoyed another banner result when her 2-year-old daughter Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following her professional debut victory at Del Mar Saturday.
Sent off as the 3-1 second choice, Tamara bobbled slightly at the break from the inside gate, but rushed up along the rail beneath Mike Smith to sit just off pacesetting favorite Hope Road (Quality Road) through fractions of :22.53 and :46.11. She tipped out a path at the top of the lane, collared Hope Road–a dead-heat runner-up to recent GIII Sorrento S. third Dua (Arrogate) on her bow July 22–inside the final furlong before skipping clear to the wire to win by 2 1/4 lengths. It was another 5 1/2 lengths back to Desert Rhapsody (Cairo Prince) in third. The final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:17.37.
Tamara, named for late Spendthrift owner B. Wayne Hughes's daughter, is the fourth foal out of the operation's four-time champion Beholder. Her year-older half-sister Teena Ella (War Front) won the GIII Senorita S. in May, while her year-younger half-brother by Curlin topped the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale two weeks ago when selling for $4 million to Amr Zedan.
“[Late Spendthrift owner] Wayne [Hughes] insisted we breed Beholder to Bolt out of respect for our partner Mick Ruis,” Spendthrift's Mark Toothaker tweeted after the victory. “There was some debate, but Wayne would hear none of it. Beholder's groom taking care of her as well.”
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 133 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.
7th-Del Mar, $84,500, Msw, 8-19, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:17.37, ft, 2 1/4 lengths.
TAMARA f, 2, by Bolt d'Oro
1st Dam: Beholder (Ch. 2yo Filly, Ch. 3yo Filly, 2x 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
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,200. O/B-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. *1/2 to Teena Ella (War Front), GSW, $128,740.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree, or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Tamara & @mikeesmith10 win going away!
The daughter of Beholder is the spitting image of the Champion mare. pic.twitter.com/E9A8IGyPGp
— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) August 20, 2023
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