Warren’s Veneda, Beholder set to clash in Vanity

ARCADIA, Calif. – The showdown between the upstart and the veteran looms in the $300,000 Vanity Stakes at Santa Anita on May 9.

Warren’s Veneda, unbeaten in three stakes this year, will face the two-time champion Beholder in the Grade 1 Vanity Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt. They are unlikely to have many rivals.

On Thursday, Warren’s Veneda had her final workout for the Vanity, going five furlongs in 59.20 seconds, the third fastest of 22 recorded works at the distance.

“She’s serious,” trainer Craig Lewis said. “We just let her do what she always does. She worked very well.”

Owned by Ben Warren, Warren’s Veneda won the Paseana Stakes in January, the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes in February, and the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Stakes in March.

Beholder won the restricted Santa Lucia Stakes on April 5 in her lone start this year. Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, Beholder was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012 and champion 3-year-old filly of 2013. Last year, she won the Santa Lucia and the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes in a campaign interrupted by a minor injury in the summer and an illness in the fall.

Beholder, who is trained by Richard Mandella, has worked well since the Santa Lucia. On Tuesday, Beholder worked six furlongs in 1:10.80.