Beholder repeats in Zenyatta Stakes

 

The de facto queen of California racing, Beholder, continued to rule the state with an iron hoof with a ¾-length victory in the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The winner of the same event last year, then a 3-year old triumphing over her elders, stalked a strong pace before taking over in the stretch and prevailing despite a re-rally from the runner-up.

 

 

Last seen finishing 4^th in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park, the two time Eclipse Award winner returned to the scene of her biggest career triumphs when facing a short field in today’s Zenyatta. With 7 of her previous 9 career wins coming over the Santa Anita strip, including two Breeders’ Cup victories, very few competitors felt like testing the filly’s mettle despite the Win and You’re In status of the race.

 

 

With Victor Espinoza aboard, it was Tiz Midnight that went out to dictate the early pace. Racing in close proximity to the four rivals behind her, Tiz Midnight set splits of :23.19 for the opening quarter and :46.55 for the first half. Yahilwa and Beholder closely pressed the pace in second and third respectively, and Iotapa, who broke a beat slow, and Wittgenstein followed in fourth and fifth.

 

 

Approaching the far turn, Beholder and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith ratcheted up the pressure, moving into second by the ¾-mile call and taking over for good entering the stretch. She led by as much as three lengths in the lane, but Tiz Midnight re-rallied late. Though never truly in danger, Beholder’s lead was nonetheless diminished to just ¾-lengths at the wire.

 

 

“She felt great, really good,” said winning jockey Mike Smith after the race. “We were worried about her getting a little tired. We were hoping we could get a bit tired but still win in hand but I had to ride her a little. The second-place mare, Tiz Midnight, is a race-fit mare. She’s run twice down at Del Mar and ran impressively so she was the kind of mare that would probably push us today. She made us do a little more than we thought we were going to have to. It could be a blessing in disguise as well because we certainly needed a good race like that.”

 

 

Iotapa improved position to finish third, Yahilwa faded to fourth and Wittgenstein, who trailed throughout, was never a factor while running fifth and last. Tiz the Key scratched out of the race.

 

 

Sent to post as the deserving 2-5 favorite, Beholder paid $2.80/$2.20/$2.10 while finishing the 1 1/16 mile race in 1:42.19. Tiz Midnight returned $3.80/$2.40 off 15-2 odds, and Iotapa paid $2.10 as the 2-1 second choice in the field of five. The $1 exacta paid a mere $4.70, the $1 trifecta returned a meager $9.00 and the $1 superfecta was worth just $15.70.

 

 

When asked if Beholder had to work a bit near the end, trainer Richard Mandella said, “I’ve got to watch the rerun. I think she was getting a little tired. You guys read that in her big work at Del Mar before the end of the meet she split that injury [sustained in the Ogden Phipps on June 7] open. We had to put five stitches in it again to try and heal it a second time. She missed a week’s training and was just able to get ready in time for this race. Most horses could not have gotten ready.”

 

 

In the first turn, Beholder was parked wide by Smith after breaking from post 4 in the field of 5. When asked about the initial wide trip, Mandella brushed it off. “He [Mike Smith] was just being safe. He was on a heavy favorite, why take a chance of locking her up? I couldn’t be happier than to have her back like this, and this race ought to put her ready to go for the ($2 million) Breeders’ Cup (Distaff at 1 1/8 miles on October 31). Smith kept her out of trouble and did the right thing. He’s known for that.”

 

 

Campaigned by Mandella for owner Spendthrift Farm, Beholder recorded her 10^th victory in 15 career starts with today’s Zenyatta triumph. By Henny Hughes and out of the Tricky Creek mare Leslie’s Lady, Beholder has now captured 8 of her 10 wins at Santa Anita. With total purse earnings of $3,368,300, the filly has more than paid dividends on her $180,000 purchase price, consigned by breeder Clarkland Farm, at the Keeneland 2011 September Yearling Sale.

 

 

Winning owner B. Wayne Hughes had nothing but praise for his stable star. “She did it again. I was just watching. I wasn’t thinking clearly. There’s a lot of pressure when everyone is expecting you to win. She’s been a nice mare for us, we like her very much. I’ve never had a horse like this before; she’s something very special.”

 

 

As a designated Win and You’re In race for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff on October 31, Beholder earned an automatic berth and fees paid entrance to defend her crown in the year end championships. With arch nemesis Princess of Sylmar retired, Beholder’s biggest challenges to her title defense will likely come in the form of Close Hatches, who is undefeated in 2014, Untapable, this year’s Kentucky Oaks winner, and Stopchargingmaria.