Vanity Mile S.

Regardless of the competition or the distance, Spendthrift Farm’s Beholder just keeps rolling along.

In the $400,000 Vanity Mile Stakes on a hot day on June 4 at Santa Anita Park, the three-time champion only broke a sweat because of the nearly 90-degree temperatures in Arcadia, Calif.

Cutting back in distance to a mile for the first time since September 2013, the daughter of Henny Hughes raced just off leisurely fractions set by Lost Bus. Beholder took command without any asking from Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens on the final turn and effortlessly held off a late rally from fellow champion Stellar Wind to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Stevens guided the 6-year-old mare past the finish line in 1:35.97 on a fast main track for her eighth straight win, all in stakes competition. She now has 10 Grade 1 victories for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.

Beholder broke well from post-position two, and Stevens was able to get her out from the inside as Lost Bus from post-position five hit the front going into the first turn. With fractions of :25.03 and :49.31 through a half-mile, Beholder was only a half-length back in second, then took her own half-length advantage after three-quarters of a mile went in 1:12.53. Stellar Wind loomed on the rail under jockey Victor Espinoza and found space in the stretch, but never made a serious challenge.

“If someone told me before the race that we would go :25 for the first quarter, I would say ‘no way,’ ” Stevens said. “I thought we would go in sub-:23, :45 and change for the second [quarter-mile], and I thought the final time would be under 1:34.”

“I almost wondered if it was a mistake when I saw :25,” Mandella added. “I didn’t think you could do that, but you’ve seen her work. She’ll work really slow if we want, and she’ll work fast if we want. She’s really turned into a professional.”

Stellar Wind, the 2015 champion 3-year-old filly, ran well in her first start off a more than seven-month layoff, following her second-place finish in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“She ran an awesome race,” Espinoza said. “I expected her to run well, but not as well as she did today. This one will prove big for the next one.”

Beholder paid $2.40, $2.10, and $2.10 across the board as the 1-5 favorite. Stellar Wind, the 3-1 second choice, paid $2.20 and $2.10. Finest City, a sprinter stretching out, completed the trifecta and brought $2.40 to show.