Sadler hopes Stellar Wind can upend Beholder again in Zenyatta

Despite the fact that Stellar Wind upset three-time Eclipse Award champion Beholder in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on July 30, she understandably is playing second fiddle in a PR sense to the six-year-old mare trained by Richard Mandella for B. Wayne Hughes.

That doesn’t diminish the anticipation Stellar Wind’s trainer, John Sadler holds for Saturday’s Zenyatta Stakes, in which the 2015 Eclipse winner as outstanding three-year-old filly attempts to hand three-time Eclipse champion Beholder only her second defeat in 15 lifetime starts at The Great Race Place.

“I’m excited,” Sadler said. “The Zenyatta is the last prep before the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and it’s going to be another classic match up, two great fillies, four Eclipse Awards between them.

“It looks like it’s going to be another epic race. Stellar Wind has trained really well and hasn’t missed a day or an oat or anything since her last race, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Stellar Wind worked six furlongs Saturday in 1:12.40.

As far as strategy in a short field of five, Sadler said, “It’s going to be tactical. We’ll come up with a plan after we see where we draw.

“We’re also looking forward to the Rodeo Drive. We’ve got Elektrum going in there and she’ll finally get to run at one of her best distances (1 ¼ miles on turf). She’s been running shorter and performing well with no luck per se, but she’s doing great.”

The Irish-bred Elektrum was second in last year’s Rodeo Drive after winning the Grade II John C. Mabee at 1 1/8 miles on grass. The longest of her last six races came at 1 3/8 miles in the Grade III Red Carpet Handicap in which she rallied from well back to be second.

Elektrum worked five furlongs on the main track Saturday in 1:01.80.

Beholder, meanwhile, galloped a mile and a half today and will continue to gallop into the race, Mandella said.

Beholder, winner of 13 of 14 races at Santa Anita and 17 of 24 overall, will face an additional Zenyatta starter in Tara’s Tango, who had been considered for the Grade I Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 9.

Supporting the headline events are the FrontRunner Stakes for two-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles; the Chandelier Stakes for two-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles; and the Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares, three and up, at 1 ¼ miles on Santa Anita’s renovated turf course.

Victory gives the winning horse in each race a fees paid berth to its respective Breeders’ Cup event.

Next Saturday, Oct. 8, the Grade I Santa Anita Sprint Championship for three year olds and up at six furlongs will serve as a springboard to the $1.5 million TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 5.