Beholder Mile Stakes
Horse race
The Beholder Mile Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three and up. It is run over a distance of one mile on the dirt each year in March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California .
History
The event was inaugurated in 1940 as the Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California over the current distance of one mile.
In 1968 Gamely won carrying a record weight for a winner of 131 pounds in the race. Her owner William Haggin Perry had the three placegetters in the race which carried a record high stakes amount for the fillies and mares of $79,650.[ 2]
Originally an open handicap for fillies and mares aged three years and up, in 1987 it was changed to an invitational handicap for selected fillies and mares. Over the next three decades, the race switched between open handicap and invitational handicap formats.
Following the closure of Hollywood Park, the race moved to Santa Anita Park in 2014. In that same year, the event was changed from the handicap format to a weight-for-age race with allowances for horses who had not recently won a graded stakes race.[ 3]
In 2016 it was announced that the race would be renamed the Vanity Mile and the distance reduced accordingly. In 2017 it was announced that the race would be renamed after the Champion Mare Beholder .[ 4] [ 1]
The race is normally run on dirt, except between 2007 and 2013 when Hollywood Park used a synthetic Cushion Track surface.[ 1]
The race was not run in 1942 and 1943 due to wartime restrictions.
Distance
The race has since been contested at various distances:
1 mile – 1940; 2016–present;
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles – 1941, 1944–1949, 1951–1953;
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles – 1950, 1954–1985, 1988–2015;
1+ 1 ⁄4 miles – 1986–1987.
Records
Time record:
Most wins:
Winners since 1972
Year
Winner
Age
Weight
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
Distance (miles)
Purse
Beholder Mile Stakes
2024
Sweet Azteca
4
122
Flavien Prat
Michael McCarthy
Pamela Ziebarth
1:36.40
1
$500,000
2023
A Mo Reay
4
122
Flavien Prat
Brad H. Cox
Hunter Valley Farm
1:36.25
1
$500,000
2022
As Time Goes By
5
122
Flavien Prat
Bob Baffert
Michael B. Tabor , Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith
1:37.55
1
$500,000
2021
Swiss Skydiver
4
124
Robby Albarado
Kenneth McPeek
Peter J. Callahan
1:36.18
1
$300,000
2020
Ce Ce
4
121
Victor Espinoza
Michael W. McCarthy
Bo Hirsch LLC
1:37.33
1
$400,000
2019
Secret Spice
4
121
Geovanni Franco
Richard Baltas
Little Red Feather Racing
1:38.39
1
$400,000
2018
Unique Bella
4
121
Mike E. Smith
Jerry Hollendorfer
Don Alberto Stable
1:35.60
1
$400,000
2017
Stellar Wind
5
126
Victor Espinoza
John W. Sadler
Hronis Racing LLC
1:36.14
1
$400,000
Vanity Mile Stakes
2016
Beholder
6
123
Gary Stevens
Richard E. Mandella
Spendthrift Farm
1:35.97
1
$400,000
Vanity Stakes
2015
My Sweet Addiction
5
119
Mike E. Smith
Martin F. Jones
Pamela C. Ziebarth
1:49.73
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
2014
Iotapa
4
119
Joe Talamo
John W. Sadler
Hronis Racing
1:47.64
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
Vanity Handicap / Vanity Invitational Handicap
2013
Byrama (GB)
4
117
Gary Stevens
Simon Callaghan
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
1:51.40
1+ 1 ⁄8
$250,000
2012
Love Theway Youare
4
115
Garrett Gomez
Myung Kwon Cho
Myung Kwon Cho
1:51.10
1+ 1 ⁄8
$250,000
2011
Blind Luck
4
123
Garrett Gomez
Jerry Hollendorfer
Hollendorfer/Dedomenico/Carver/Abruzzo
1:50.89
1+ 1 ⁄8
$250,000
2010
Zenyatta
6
129
Mike E. Smith
John Shirreffs
Jerry & Ann Moss
1:49.01
1+ 1 ⁄8
$250,000
2009
Zenyatta
5
129
Mike E. Smith
John Shirreffs
Jerry & Ann Moss
1:48.15
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
2008
Zenyatta
4
124
Mike E. Smith
John Shirreffs
Jerry & Ann Moss
1:49.51
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
2007
Nashoba's Key
4
118
Joe Talamo
Carla Gaines
Warren B. Williamson
1:48.83
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
2006
Hollywood Story
5
118
David R. Flores
John Shirreffs
George Krikorian
1:48.55
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
2005
Splendid Blended
3
120
Jerry D. Bailey
Neil D. Drysdale
Peter Vegso Racing
1:49.33
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
2004
Victory Encounter
4
116
Alex Solis
John W. Sadler
Tom Mankiewicz
1:48.28
1+ 1 ⁄8
$250,000
2003
Azeri
5
127
Mike E. Smith
Laura de Seroux
A. Paulson Living Trust
1:48.48
1+ 1 ⁄8
$250,000
2002
Azeri
4
125
Mike E. Smith
Laura de Seroux
A. Paulson Living Trust
1:48.88
1+ 1 ⁄8
$250,000
2001
Gourmet Girl
6
119
Gary Stevens
Pico Perdomo
Gary A. Tanaka
1:49.21
1+ 1 ⁄8
$250,000
2000
Riboletta
5
123
Chris McCarron
Eduardo Inda
Aaron & Marie Jones
1:48.54
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
1999
Manistique
4
122
Chris McCarron
John Shirreffs
505 Farms
1:48.06
1+ 1 ⁄8
$400,000
1998
Escena
5
124
Jerry D. Bailey
William I. Mott
Allen E. Paulson
1:48.00
1+ 1 ⁄8
$350,000
1997
Twice the Vice
5
121
Chris McCarron
Ronald W. Ellis
Martin & Pam Wygod
1:46.40
1+ 1 ⁄8
$400,000
1996
Jewel Princess
4
120
Corey Nakatani
Wallace Dollase
Richard & Martha Stephen
1:47.00
1+ 1 ⁄8
$250,000
1995
Private Persuasion
4
114
Gary Stevens
Dan Hendricks
Martin & Pam Wygod
1:48.20
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
1994
Potridee
5
114
Alex Solis
Ron McAnally
Leslie Grimm
1:48.08
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
1993
Re Toss
6
115
Eddie Delahoussaye
Henry M. Moreno
Arthur & Larry Risdon
1:47.92
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
1992
Paseana
5
127
Chris McCarron
Ron McAnally
Sidney H. Craig
1:48.06
1+ 1 ⁄8
$300,000
1991
Brought To Mind
4
120
Pat Valenzuela
Ron McAnally
Tadahiro Hotehama
1:48.50
1+ 1 ⁄8
$200,000
1990
Gorgeous
4
124
Eddie Delahoussaye
Neil D. Drysdale
Robert N. Clay
1:48.20
1+ 1 ⁄8
$200,000
1989
Bayakoa
5
125
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Ron McAnally
Janis & Frank Whitham
1:47.20
1+ 1 ⁄8
$200,000
1988
Annoconnor
4
114
Corey Black
John Gosden
Morton Fink & Roy Gottlieb
1:49.20
1+ 1 ⁄8
$200,000
1987
Infinidad
5
113
Corey Black
Charles E. Whittingham
Arthur B. Hancock III
2:00.60
1+ 1 ⁄4
$200,000
1986
Magnificent Lindy
4
116
Chris McCarron
Neil Drysdale
Paula L. Tucker
2:02.00
1+ 1 ⁄4
$200,000
1985
Dontstop Themusic
5
118
Ángel Cordero Jr.
Randy Winick
Mr. & Mrs. Albert Broccoli
1:47.80
1+ 1 ⁄8
$200,000
1984
Princess Rooney
4
120
Eddie Delahoussaye
Neil Drysdale
Paula L. Tucker
1:46.20
1+ 1 ⁄8
$200,000
1983
A Kiss for Luck
4
114
Chris McCarron
Jerry Fanning
Paula L. Tucker
1:49.20
1+ 1 ⁄8
$200,000
1982
Sangue
4
120
Bill Shoemaker
Henry M. Moreno
R. Charlene Parks
1:48.00
1+ 1 ⁄8
$200,000
1981
Track Robbery
5
120
Patrick Valenzuela
Robert L. Wheeler
Summa Stable
1:47.00
1+ 1 ⁄8
$200,000
1980
It's In The Air
4
120
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laz Barrera
Harbor View Farm
1:47.00
1+ 1 ⁄8
$150,000
1979
It's In The Air
3
113
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laz Barrera
Harbor View Farm
1:47.40
1+ 1 ⁄8
$125,000
1978
Afifa
4
113
Bill Shoemaker
Gene Cleveland
Swiftsure Stable
1:46.40
1+ 1 ⁄8
$125,000
1977
Cascapedia
4
129
Sandy Hawley
Gordon C. Campbell
Bernard J. Ridder
1:47.60
1+ 1 ⁄8
$100,000
1976
Miss Toshiba
4
120
Fernando Toro
Thomas A. Pratt
Robert Sangster
1:48.00
1+ 1 ⁄8
$100,000
1975
Dulcia
6
118
Bill Shoemaker
Charles E. Whittingham
Helen G. Stollery
1:47.40
1+ 1 ⁄8
1974
Tallahto
4
126
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Charles E. Whittingham
Elizabeth A. Keck
1:47.00
1+ 1 ⁄8
1973
Convenience
5
121
John L. Rotz
Willard L. Proctor
Glen Hill Farm
1:47.80
1+ 1 ⁄8
1972
Convenience
4
121
Jerry Lambert
Willard L. Proctor
Glen Hill Farm
1:47.80
1+ 1 ⁄8
Dirt
All Weather Track (Cushion Track )
At Santa Anita Park
At Hollywood Park Racetrack
Earlier winners
1971 : Hi Q.
1970 : Commissary
1969 : Desert Law
1968 : Gamely [ 2]
1967 : Desert Love
1966 : Khal Ireland
1965 : Jalousie
1964 : Star Maggie
1963 : Table Mate
1962 : Linita
1961 : Perizade
1960 : Silver Spoon
† 1959 : Zevs Joy / Tender Size
1958 : Annie-Lu-San
1957 : Annie-Lu-San
1956 : Mary Machree
1955 : Countess Fleet
1954 : Bubbley
1953 : Fleet Khal
1952 : Two Lea
1951 : Bewitch
1950 : Next Move
1949 : Silver Drift
1948 : Hemet Squaw
1947 : Honeymoon
1946 : Be Faithful
1945 : Busher
1944 : Happy Issue
‡1943 : Race not held
‡1942 : Race not held
1941 : Painted Veil
1940 : Etolia II
Notes:
† Run in two divisions in 1959.
‡ Race not held due to World War II
References