Few willing to challenge Beholder in Zenyatta
The smallest field among the graded stakes Saturday at Santa Anita will be the Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles.
Beholder, the two-time champion, will be a heavy favorite against Iotapa, Tiz Midnight, and stablemate Tiz the Key. Trainer Richard Mandella said he plans to run Tiz the Key to give the filly a chance in a Grade 1 race.
Tiz the Key was a troubled 11th in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap on turf in July. She won her only career start on dirt, a maiden race at Santa Anita in April.
Last year, Beholder won the Zenyatta and the BC Distaff.
Big group expected for Rodeo Drive
The lone graded turf stakes on Saturday is the Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 1/4 miles, a prep for the BC Filly and Mare Turf.
Irish Mission, winner of the Grade 3 Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 31, and Emollient, winner of the Grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park in 2013, are two shippers in an expected field of 11.
The other possible starters are Bee Brave, Cozze Up Lady, Famous Alice, Miss Serendipity, Moulin de Mougin, Parranda, Scarlet Strike, Stormy Lucy, and Wishing Gate.
Stormy Lucy, who won two graded stakes in April and May but has lost her last four starts, worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 on dirt on Sunday.