Tara's Tango headed to Spinster

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tara’s Tango won her first Grade 1 in March at Santa Anita, before Beholder and Stellar Wind launched their 2016 campaigns.

Tara’s Tango will try for a second Grade 1 in a race that does not include the two leading older fillies and mares in California.

Instead of facing Beholder and Stellar Wind in the Grade 1, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, Tara’s Tango will run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland one week later.

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“We’re looking at the Spinster, because the race is coming up light and it doesn’t have Beholder and Stellar Wind,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Tuesday.

Tara’s Tango won the Grade 1 Santa Margarita on March 19 at Santa Anita, and finished third in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in April prior to a summer break. She won her comeback in the Grade 3, 6 1/2-furlong Rancho Bernardo Handicap on Aug. 17 at Del Mar.

Tara’s Tango, owned by Stonestreet Stables, could target the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 5, although the BC Distaff has not been ruled out.

Tara’s Tango is not the only California-based filly eyeing the Spinster. Trainer Phil D’Amato said Tuesday that Gloryzapper was being considered for the Spinster.

“She’s 50-50 right now,” D’Amato said. “She breezed super at Santa Anita.”

Gloryzapper, an allowance-caliber filly with three wins and three seconds from seven starts, worked five furlongs Sept. 23 in 1:00.40.

Tara’s Tango and Gloryzapper would meet in a Spinster field expected to include Grade 1 winner I’m a Chatterbox and Grade 3 winner Genre.

Meanwhile, the Zenyatta on Saturday at Santa Anita is coming up light on numbers. Possible rivals for Beholder and Stellar Wind include Gomo, Off the Road, Scattagirl, and Vale Dori. Entries for the Zenyatta will be taken on Wednesday.