Beholder, Iotapa Lock Horns in Zenyatta

Reputation runs up against recent form when two-time champion Beholder is tackled by 2014 dual grade I winner Iotapa in the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I) over the Santa Anita Park main course Sept. 27.

The Zenyatta, for females 3-years-old and up going 1 1/16 miles, drew a field of six. It is one of five grade I races on the Saturday program and carries an automati c berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Santa Anita as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge.

Beholder, champion 2-year-old filly of 2012 and last year’s champion 3-year-old  filly, is a ridiculous 7-for-8 at Santa Anita, including last year’s Zenyatta and Breeders’ Cup Distaff and 2012’s Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (all gr. I).

The Zenyatta, however, will mark just her third start on the 2014 season. She won the Santa Lucia Stakes at Santa Anita in April, then journeyed to New York to finish fourth by one length behind Close Hatches, Princess of Sylmar, and Antipathy in the June 7 Ogden Phipps Stakes (gr. I).

Despite the layoff, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella maintains the 4-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes is coming up to the Zenyatta in peak form for owner Spendthrift Farm. She has banked nearly $3.2 million to date while recording ninew wins and three seconds in 14 lifetime starts.

Iotapa will be giving three pounds to the dual champion because of her outstanding runs in the June 14 Vanity Stakes (gr. I) and Aug. 2 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I), winning both for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler.  The 4-year-old Afleet Alex   filly finished second to Beholder in last year’s Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) by 2 3/4 lengths. She also won the Santa Maria Stakes (gr. II) earlier this season and is approaching $800,000 in career earnings.

If there is to be an upsetter of the top two, it will likely be Tiz Midnight, riding a three-race win streak for trainer Bob Baffert, who trained her sire, Midnight Lute  , and her dam, Tough Tiz’s Sis, to grade I victories. Tiz Midnight began the season with a second-place finish before breaking her maiden at Santa Anita in June. Since then she has won two allowance/optional claimers at Del Mar for owners Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. She has not finished off the board in six lifetime starts.

Yahilwa came to the U.S. from England to begin 2014. Her best effort was a second in the Adoration Stakes (gr. III), but she has been defeated soundly by Iotapa on three occasions and needs to pick up her game here.

Wittgenstein ran second to Beholder in last year’s Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar but would need to show vast improvement to contend. Tiz the Key, owned and trained by Beholder’s connections, is also entered.