5th-Santa Anita, $69,000, Msw, 2-12, 3yo, f, 6fT, 1:09.42, fm, 1 1/4 lengths.
TEENA ELLA (f, 3, War Front–Beholder {Ch. 3-year-old Filly, 2x Ch. Older Mare, Ch. 2-year-old Filly, MGISW, $6,156,600}, by Henny Hughes), the third foal out of Beholder, became the champion's first winner while making her turf debut at Santa Anita Sunday. The 2-1 favorite broke alertly and was keen while in tight quarters between rivals battling for the lead in the early strides. She settled back just off the dueling leaders behind fractions of :22.76 and :45.71. Tipped out four wide at the top of the lane, the bay filly closed determinedly to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths. Irish Rose (Irish Surf) was second.
Teena Ella faded to sixth behind subsequent GI Starlet S. and GIII Las Virgenes S. winner Faiza (Girvin) in her six-furlong debut at Del Mar last November. She was most recently third going six furlongs over the main track at Santa Anita Jan. 6. Her victory capped a powerful hour for Spendthrift Farm, which was also represented by Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo), who took his record to a perfect two-for-two with a powerful victory at Tampa Bay Downs.
Beholder, a four-time Eclipse winner, has a 2-year-old filly by Bolt d'Oro and a yearling colt by Curlin. She was bred to Gun Runner, but was barren last year. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-1, $48,740.
O/B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella.
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