The Lead:
It's a Grade 1 contest with as much national intrigue as you'll see on the west coast this time of year. The Beholder Mile not only has California's leading fillies and mares on the dirt, but welcomes worthy invaders from the Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox barns. The former Vanity Stakes, the Beholder has been won by legends like Zenyatta (3 times), Paseana, Bayakoa, Princess Rooney and the great Beholder herself.

​Field Depth:
PAULINE'S PEARL and FUN TO DREAM are established Grade 1 winners. The Grade 2 winners include MIDNIGHT MEMORIES and DESERT DAWN. KIRSTENBOSCH and A MO REAY have Grade 3 scores to their credit. AWAKE AT MIDNYTE is Grade 1-placed. AWAKE AT MIDNYTE and PAULINE'S PEARL have arguably kept the best company lines over the longest period, but there's not a big swath in class to evaluate here. And, there's not an easy toss-out in the bunch.

Pace:
Bob Baffert-trained stablemates GANADORA and MIDNIGHT MEMORIES appear quickest early, but you never know if barnmates will duke it out the way it looks on paper. The pressers appear to be AWAKE AT MIDNYTE and yet another Baffert, likely favorite FUN TO DREAM. This pace doesn't look like it will be slow, even if they try, but it likely won't melt down because of the friendly fire.
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Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

1-KIRSTENBOSCH: Trainer John Sadler is a 3-time winner of this race, most recently 2017 with Stellar Wind. Rallying third behind Fun to Dream going 7 furlongs and liked the interest she showed late last time to seal the route deal.

2-PAULINE'S PEARL: Steve Asmussen trainee exits victory in the Sam Houston Ladies Classic for the second straight year, but comes west this time instead of repeating her bid in the same-day Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn. Her barnmate Clairiere is there, leaving the door open for a road trip. Best trip is 1-1/16 miles, so she might need a bit of pace help to excel at the flat mile.

3-AWAKE AT MIDNTYE: Runner-up in all 4 Santa Anita stakes bids, it's fair to question if she'll want to punch by at this distance against this quality. But rest assured, she'll bring her effort. She's lost 2 of 3 head-to-heads with FUN TO DREAM.

4-MIDNIGHT MEMORIES: She's won both career routes and is 3-for-4 at Santa Anita, yet the La Brea beaten favorite could be a bit forgotten on the tote after a disappointing try at 7 furlongs. It really comes down to how hot the early pressure is on her as part of the pace.

5-A MO REAY: That's amore. At least that's how you say it. But I did love the tenacity she showed at Oaklawn last time to run down a determined front-runner who was looking for her third straight stakes win of the local meet. That style will serve the Brad Cox trainee well in the Beholder with targets needed to tackle. We saw Swiss Skydiver come west to win this race in 2021, something this filly and Pauline's Pearl will try to follow.

6-GANADORA: No slouch for sure, but quite likely a pace player who gives way here. John Velazquez jumps off to ride a non-Baffert in Pauline's Pearl, which is noteworthy.

7-DESERT DAWN: With 7 straight superfecta finishes in graded stakes, she'll come off a September layoff in a difficult spot. Last year's Santa Anita Oaks winner has yet to beat elders, but was runner-up in a Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar that was simply a better group than this. She'll fit and seems fit enough on works for Phil D'Amato.

8-FUN TO DREAM: Likely favorite has just 1 loss in 7 starts, but this will be her first route try in a stakes race. She did win around 2 turns in allowance company last year. She had a very sharp look and finish in the Santa Monica and if she translates that form longer, she'll be very tough to beat. But from a tough post for her pressing running style, and uncertainty how she'll handle 2 turns against this level of competition, you don't have to concede to a short price.

Most Certain Exotics Contender:
FUN TO DREAM has not shown any obvious flaws.

Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
KIRSTENBOSCH was 31-1 when third in the La Brea and improved routing since then. She'll probably maintain a fair to overlay price.

Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$80 win A MO REAY. $10 exacta box FUN TO DREAM and A MO REAY ($20).