Zenyatta Stakes 2016: Odds and Picks

This Saturday at Santa Anita Park features a rematch in the $300,000 Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes between champions Beholder and Stellar Wind. The two met for the first time this year in the Grade 1 Vanity Mile, with Beholder coming out on top. In the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch, however; the tables were turned and Stellar Wind ended Beholder’s eight race win streak. For picks in the Zenyatta, as well as the Awesome Again, take a look HorseCenter’s video below, California Chrome and Beholder Santa Anita Previews.

Zenyatta odds and post positions from the HRN Stakes Tracker can be seen below.

After settling for second in the Clement L. Hirsch, trainer Richard Mandella took the blame for not having Beholder ready for the race. In her next start out she was second again, but there was no shame in finishing behind California Chrome in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, a race which Beholder won last year. With Stellar Wind receiving an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in the “Win and You’re In” Clement L. Hirsch, Beholder will try to win the Zenyatta for the fourth consecutive year for her own automatic berth into this year’s Distaff, which her connections chose to point toward over the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Stellar Wind’s consistent three-year-old form from 2015 transferred over to her four-year-old year. After capping off last year with four wins and a game runner-up effort in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff against older fillies and mares, she has come back in this year’s top West Coast races and proved she belongs with the best in the Distaff division.

For more on the Zenyatta, check out the Shap ‘Cap video, Stars Prepare for Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

By Christine Oser