Smooth as silk under jockey Gary Stevens, Beholder vanquished both two-time champion Royal Delta and Princess of Sylmar while rolling to a 4 1/4-length victory in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, Calif.

Beholder, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly after her sharp win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, romped to victory over a track she clearly relishes. The daughter of Henny Hughes completed the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:44.77 on a fast track.

Royal Delta, the two-time defending winner of the Distaff (then named the Ladies’ Classic), was done early after pressing pacesetter Authenticity and folding up when challenged on her outside by Beholder. Princess of Sylmar, who defeated Beholder by a half-length in the Kentucky Oaks this spring, was not a factor.

Beholder races for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella and is owned by B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm. The 3-year-old bay filly was bred in Kentucky by Clarkland Farm