Beholder Mile Stakes

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.

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.

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.

The race is normally run on dirt, except between 2007 and 2013 when Hollywood Park used a synthetic Cushion Track surface.

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; miles – 1941, 1944–1949, 1951–1953; miles – 1950, 1954–1985, 1988–2015; miles – 1986–1987.

Records Time record: 1:34.96 for 1 mile – Cavalieri (2025) 1:46.20 for miles – Princess Rooney (1984)

Most wins: 3 – Zenyatta (2008, 2009, 2010)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 – John Shirreffs (1999, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010)

Most wins by a jockey: 7 – Mike E. Smith (2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018)

Winners since 1972 Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer Owner Time Distance(miles) Purse Beholder Mile Stakes2026Splendora5120Juan HernandezBob BaffertBoyd Racing and By Talla Racing LLC1:35.161$300,0002025Cavalieri4122Juan HernandezBob BaffertSpeedway Stables1:34.961$300,0002024Sweet Azteca4122Flavien PratMichael McCarthyPamela Ziebarth1:36.401$500,0002023 A Mo Reay4122Flavien PratBrad H. CoxHunter Valley Farm1:36.251$500,0002022As Time Goes By5122Flavien PratBob BaffertMichael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith1:37.551$500,0002021Swiss Skydiver4124Robby AlbaradoKenneth McPeekPeter J. Callahan1:36.181$300,0002020Ce Ce4121Victor EspinozaMichael W. McCarthyBo Hirsch LLC1:37.331$400,0002019Secret Spice4121Geovanni FrancoRichard BaltasLittle Red Feather Racing1:38.391$400,0002018Unique Bella4121Mike E. Smith Jerry HollendorferDon Alberto Stable1:35.601$400,0002017Stellar Wind5126Victor Espinoza John W. SadlerHronis Racing LLC1:36.141$400,000 Vanity Mile Stakes2016Beholder6 123Gary StevensRichard E. MandellaSpendthrift Farm1:35.971$400,000 Vanity Stakes2015My Sweet Addiction5119Mike E. SmithMartin F. JonesPamela C. Ziebarth1:49.73$300,0002014Iotapa4119Joe TalamoJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing1:47.64$300,000 Vanity Handicap / Vanity Invitational Handicap2013Byrama (GB)4117Gary StevensSimon CallaghanEclipse Thoroughbred Partners1:51.40$250,0002012Love Theway Youare4115Garrett GomezMyung Kwon ChoMyung Kwon Cho1:51.10$250,0002011Blind Luck4123Garrett GomezJerry HollendorferHollendorfer/Dedomenico/Carver/Abruzzo1:50.89$250,0002010Zenyatta6129Mike E. SmithJohn ShirreffsJerry & Ann Moss1:49.01$250,0002009Zenyatta5129Mike E. SmithJohn ShirreffsJerry & Ann Moss1:48.15$300,0002008Zenyatta4124Mike E. SmithJohn ShirreffsJerry & Ann Moss1:49.51$300,0002007Nashoba's Key4118Joe TalamoCarla GainesWarren B. Williamson1:48.83$300,0002006Hollywood Story5118David R. FloresJohn ShirreffsGeorge Krikorian1:48.55$300,0002005Splendid Blended3120Jerry D. BaileyNeil D. DrysdalePeter Vegso Racing1:49.33$300,0002004Victory Encounter4116Alex SolisJohn W. SadlerTom Mankiewicz1:48.28$250,0002003Azeri5127Mike E. SmithLaura de SerouxA. Paulson Living Trust1:48.48$250,0002002Azeri4125Mike E. SmithLaura de SerouxA. Paulson Living Trust1:48.88$250,0002001Gourmet Girl6119Gary StevensPico PerdomoGary A. Tanaka1:49.21$250,0002000Riboletta5123Chris McCarronEduardo IndaAaron & Marie Jones1:48.54$300,0001999Manistique4122Chris McCarronJohn Shirreffs505 Farms1:48.06$400,0001998Escena5124Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson1:48.00$350,0001997Twice the Vice5121Chris McCarronRonald W. EllisMartin & Pam Wygod1:46.40$400,0001996Jewel Princess4120Corey NakataniWallace DollaseRichard & Martha Stephen1:47.00$250,0001995Private Persuasion4114Gary StevensDan HendricksMartin & Pam Wygod1:48.20$300,0001994Potridee 5114Alex SolisRon McAnallyLeslie Grimm1:48.08$300,0001993Re Toss6115Eddie DelahoussayeHenry M. MorenoArthur & Larry Risdon1:47.92$300,0001992Paseana5127Chris McCarronRon McAnallySidney H. Craig1:48.06$300,0001991Brought To Mind4120Pat ValenzuelaRon McAnallyTadahiro Hotehama1:48.50$200,0001990Gorgeous4124Eddie DelahoussayeNeil D. DrysdaleRobert N. Clay1:48.20$200,0001989Bayakoa5125Laffit Pincay, Jr.Ron McAnallyJanis & Frank Whitham1:47.20$200,0001988Annoconnor4114Corey BlackJohn GosdenMorton Fink & Roy Gottlieb1:49.20$200,0001987Infinidad5113Corey BlackCharles E. WhittinghamArthur B. Hancock III2:00.60$200,0001986Magnificent Lindy4116Chris McCarronNeil DrysdalePaula L. Tucker2:02.00$200,0001985Dontstop Themusic5118Ángel Cordero Jr.Randy WinickMr. & Mrs. Albert Broccoli1:47.80$200,0001984Princess Rooney4120Eddie DelahoussayeNeil DrysdalePaula L. Tucker1:46.20$200,0001983A Kiss for Luck4114Chris McCarronJerry FanningPaula L. Tucker1:49.20$200,0001982Sangue4120Bill ShoemakerHenry M. MorenoR. Charlene Parks1:48.00$200,0001981Track Robbery5120Patrick ValenzuelaRobert L. WheelerSumma Stable1:47.00$200,0001980It's In The Air4120Laffit Pincay, Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm1:47.00$150,0001979It's In The Air3113Laffit Pincay, Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm1:47.40$125,0001978Afifa4113Bill ShoemakerGene ClevelandSwiftsure Stable1:46.40$125,0001977Cascapedia4129Sandy HawleyGordon C. CampbellBernard J. Ridder1:47.60$100,0001976Miss Toshiba4120Fernando ToroThomas A. PrattRobert Sangster1:48.00$100,0001975Dulcia6118Bill ShoemakerCharles E. WhittinghamHelen G. Stollery1:47.401974Tallahto4126Laffit Pincay, Jr.Charles E. WhittinghamElizabeth A. Keck1:47.001973Convenience5121John L. RotzWillard L. ProctorGlen Hill Farm1:47.801972Convenience4121Jerry LambertWillard L. ProctorGlen Hill Farm1:47.80

Earlier winners

1971 : Hi Q. 1970 : Commissary 1969 : Desert Law 1968 : Gamely 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

The Vanity Invitational Handicap at Pedigree Query