ARCADIA, Calif. -- A champion mare produced a storybook ending to an amazing five-year career Friday at Santa Anita.Beholder, the 6-year-old making her 26th and final start in the $2 million Breeders Cup Distaff, wore down the previously undefeated Songbird in a stretch-long street fight to win by a nose in a race for the ages.There were tears everywhere in the Santa Anita winners circle, where trainer Richard Mandella, jockey Gary Stevens, and owner B. Wayne Hughes celebrated the win by Beholder ($8.60). It was her third Breeders Cup win, 11th Grade 1 victory, and also her swan song.Its probably the most emotional [win] of my career, knowing this was her last race, Stevens said immediately afterward. I just asked Mr. Hughes if he has a paddock for me next to her. I probably should be getting on the plane with her and walking out right now.Beholder will retire to become a broodmare at Hughess Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky, and there was no second-guessing by Hughes after the race. I think its time for her to go the normal route to go back to Kentucky and not having to have Richard and Gary to deal with, Hughes said.It was good-natured kidding delivered by a man with utmost appreciation for his trainer and rider.I dont think Ill ever have another horse like this, and so Im very grateful to have been a part of it, Hughes said. I mean, I really compliment Richard. I dont know of any trainer that could have taken a horse for six years and done what hes done. But Gary has been a big part of it.Beholder won at least one Grade 1 race in each of the past five years and was most effective utilizing the stalking style she employed Friday.The race unfolded as expected, with Songbird and jockey Mike Smith shooting to the front. Stevens said Beholder broke sharper than she ever has in her career, but when Im a Chatterbox went up inside to press Songbird, Stevens was happy to allow Beholder to sit third on the outside.The fractions were modest. Songbird went the opening half-mile in 47.16 seconds and six furlongs in 1:11.14. Nearing the quarter pole, Beholder ranged outside Songbird. From the quarter pole to the wire, Stevens said, it was a street fight.Songbird, a 3-year-old facing older fillies and mares for the first time after winning her first 11 starts, refused to surrender. I didnt know how much fight Songbird had in her, Stevens said. I found out. I put her away three times down the stretch.Beholder raced outside, Songbird battled along the rail, and the two dueled to the wire. Stevens thought he had it won late. I saw the purple with all the banners [on the rail] down the stretch, and said ? Were close! The margin was a nose; even-money favorite Songbird finished 1-1/4 lengths in front of Forever Unbridled. Stellar Wind, the 5-2 second choice, finished fourth. The order of finish was completed by Im a Chatterbox, Curalina, and Land over Sea.Corona Del Inca, a Breeders Cup Challenge winner making her first start since May in Argentina, was injured and euthanized. She sustained a condylar fracture of her right foreleg, a sesamoid fracture, and fractured the first pastern bone.Distaff winner Beholder goes out like the three-time champion she already is. Beholder retires having won 18 races and $6,156,600.As for Songbird, her future is bright. She will continue to race next year at age 4 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and owner Rick Porter.Hollendorfer said he could never be disappointed with Songbird. She ran great, just the other horse ran a little better.Beholder did it throughout her career. She won the BC Juvenile Fillies in 2012, the BC Distaff in 2013, and won at least one Grade 1 for five years running.Ive never seen a racehorse stay in peak form [that long], Stevens said. I know Ill never sit on another one like her. In a way, I wonder, should I be walking out too? But I have [Saturday] to ride. Who knows what lies beyond that?Attendance on Friday was 45,763; the pick-six carryover into Saturday is $511,261.-- additional reporting by David Grening Cheap Jordan 12 From China . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Air Jordan 10 Cheap .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. http://www.jordanshoescheapsale.com/jordan-retro-12-for-sale.html .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Jordan 9 For Sale . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Jordan 33 Shoes For Sale . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. NEW YORK -- The Minnesota Vikings enjoyed their bye week as the only unbeaten team left in the NFL.As they maintained their perfect mark, they remained on top of the latest AP Pro32 poll , which was released Tuesday.The Vikings received six first-place votes for 378 points from balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL.The New England Patriots stayed at No. 2 after routing the Cincinnati Bengals 35-17 on Sunday. The Patriots received five first-place votes for 376 points.Tom Brady rolls again, and the 1-2 punch of tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett is as good as there is in todays NFL, Newsdays Bob Glauber said.The Seattle Seahawks moved up a spot to No. 3 after their 26-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Seahawks received the other first-place vote, finishing with 358 points.Dak Prescott and the surging Dallas Cowboys moved up five spots and enter their bye week at No. 4.No one could possibly have foreseen how good Dak Prescott would have been, Glauber said. Now it may be impossible to keep him out of the lineup, even when Tony Romo is ready to play again.The Falcons moved up two spots to No. 5 despite losing a close game at CenturyLink Field when Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman grabbed Julio Jones right arm as the All-Pro receiver tried to catch a long pass over the middle and set upp a potential game-winning field goal in the final 2 minutes.ddddddddddddn official may have swallowed his whistle at Seattle, but Atlanta is making a loud statement as an emerging NFC power, said Ira Kaufman of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.The Denver Broncos slid one spot to No. 6 after losing to the San Diego Chargers. They host their former starting quarterback Brock Osweiler and the first-place Houston Texans on Monday night.The surprising Buffalo Bills, who have won four games in a row and are in second place in the AFC East, jumped four spots to No. 7.The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped five spots to No. 8 after their unexpected 30-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins. And now the Steelers host the Patriots without Ben Roethlisberger, who had left knee surgery on Monday and will miss Sundays game.The Steelers hope to tread water until Ben Roethlisberger returns in time for a late-season surge, Kaufman said.The Washington Redskins, who also have won four in a row and trail Dallas by a game in the NFC East, moved up five spots to No. 9.And the Kansas City Chiefs jumped two spots to No. 10 after topping the Oakland Raiders.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '