In the second largest winning margin in the race’s history, Beholder became the first female to win the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Saturday.
In the final turn she increased her lead in the 1 and 1/4 mile race to finish in 1:59.77.
After the race Beholder earned an automatic berth in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic in October where she may face off against famed American Pharaoh who is scheduled to end his career at the race.
"I knew she hadn't hit the afterburners yet and I said, 'This is going to be fun,'" Gary Stevens, Beholder's jockey told AP.
After the final turn, the mare increased her lead to 8 and 1/4 lengths, beating the other eight male thoroughbreds easily.
"I've never walked into the starting gate in a million-dollar race as confident as I did," Stevens said. "Usually there's a matter of nerves involved in these races but she caused me to have a normal heart rate going in there."
Beholder’s career earnings are now $4,256,600 including 14 wins in 19 starts.
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This is Steven’s third Pacific Classic win and trainer Richard Mandella’s fourth.
"For one time, I'm speechless," Mandella said. "I didn't expect she'd beat these colts up like this."
"I was in a good spot, right there with Beholder," said Martin Garcia, who rode Hopportunity, the fourth place finisher. "Then she took off. She's a freak, man. A freak."
Beholder is one of only 5 mares to race in the classic, which began in 1991.
