Warren’s Veneda eyes Native Diver, Matriarch

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 1 winner Warren’s Veneda might start against males in the $150,000 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 28 in her first start since a seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Oct. 30.

Trainer Craig Lewis said on Wednesday that the Grade 3 Native Diver or the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares at Del Mar on Nov. 29 are being considered. The Matriarch Stakes is a Grade 1.

In either race, Warren’s Veneda will be trying to accomplish something for the first time. A 5-year-old mare, Warren’s Veneda has never faced males. She has not won at a mile on turf in three career starts at the distance. Warren’s Veneda has won 8 of 28 starts and earned $931,862.

Warren’s Veneda has won four stakes, including the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes and the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational at Santa Anita earlier this year. Last December, Warren’s Veneda was second in the Grade 2 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos. Lewis intended to run Warren’s Veneda in the same race this year, but the race is not being offered because of concerns about available prize money at Los Alamitos this fall.

“We can’t do that, and that’s kind of disappointing,” Lewis said.

Warren’s Veneda was nominated for Saturday’s $100,000 Red Carpet Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Del Mar, but Lewis said that was done just “to take a look.”