Few things capture the racing world's fancy more than watching the prodigy of a Hall of Fame racehorse. There's something about the possibility the offspring will grow up to be just like their famous father or mother that teases the imagination.
When the offspring goes out and wins their debut, it always creates a buzz and if that “baby” is the spitting image of their world class parent, it just feeds the speculation. As Yogi Berra once said: 'It's déjà vu all over again.'
On Aug. 19, a horse named Tamara (pronounced Tah-mare-ah), a 2-year-old brown bay filly by Bolt d'Oro, won her debut at Del Mar by 2 ¼ lengths. Bolt d'Oro was a very good horse in his own right but that's not the connection that has the racing world talking this week. It's her mother, Hall of Fame inductee Beholder.
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
Take Tamara and put her mom's rider, Mike Smith, on her back wearing the bright orange silks of Spendthrift Farm and one is instantly transported back to the days Beholder ruled the racing world.
That was 2012 to 2016 during which time she won four Eclipse Awards and three Breeders' Cups. She would win 18 of her 26 starts and collect over $6 million in earnings. Pretty hard act to follow for a precocious 2-year-old filly.
“She's grown up in the last few months into a beautiful filly,” her trainer Richard Mandella says. “She was a little backwards-looking three months ago, but now she's grown into herself nicely.”
Mandella also trained Beholder. He says Tamara came out of the race in good order and they're going to look at the G1 Del Mar Debutante September 9 on closing weekend.
“We don't know if she'd be back in time for that,” Mandella says, “but if I had to guess today I'd say she would. We'll see how she gets back to the track.”
Beholder ran second to Executiveprivilege in the 2012 Del Mar Debutante. Missed by a nose.
I knew there was a reason I got deja vu taking pictures of Tamara yesterday. The resemblance is wild. pic.twitter.com/iilHPfhWEW
— Evers (@A_Evers) August 20, 2023
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