Iotapa will challenge Beholder in Zenyatta Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Iotapa appears to be the opponent most capable of beating two-time champion Beholder in Saturday’s $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita.

Owned by Hronis Racing, Iotapa has not started since winning the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 2. That race carried a fees-paid berth for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 through the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program.

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On Monday, Iotapa had her final workout before the Zenyatta, going six furlongs in 1:12.80. Iotapa and Beholder will meet for the first time in the Zenyatta.

“I’m happy with my horse,” Sadler said. “She’s ready to go.”

The Zenyatta is run over 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares and is also part of the Win and You’re In program. The race will have a small field. Beholder and Iotapa will be joined by Tiz Midnight and Tiz the Key. With a lucrative purse and Grade 1 status, the race could draw a few more runners, but they will be longshots.

Sadler said on Tuesday that he is considering Daddy D T for Saturday’s $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes for 2-year-olds, and Bird E House for the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes for 3-year-olds and up. The FrontRunner is a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1. Another option for Daddy D T is to wait a week for the $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes on turf on Oct. 5. Daddy D T won his maiden in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Stakes in early September at Del Mar.

Bird E House recently arrived from Florida where he won 2 of 4 starts this year, all for trainer Marty Wolfson. The Awesome Again field is expected to be led by Shared Belief, the unbeaten winner of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 24. The Awesome Again is a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1.

The Classic could include the Sadler-trainer Candy Boy, who finished third behind Bayern in the Pennsylvania Derby last Saturday. Sadler said one of the reasons the Breeders’ Cup Classic is attractive is that “it’s in our own backyard.”