Warren’s Veneda might go to New York for Phipps

ARCADIA, Calif. – Warren’s Veneda, third as a heavy favorite in the Grade 1 Vanity Stakes at Santa Anita on May 9, has resumed training and could start in the $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6.

Warren’s Veneda won three consecutive stakes for fillies and mares on dirt from January to mid-March, including the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational in March, before losing the four-runner Vanity Stakes by a length and a head as the 1-9 favorite.

Trainer Craig Lewis said that Warren’s Veneda passed medical tests conducted in the days after the loss.

“We did a blood chemistry work, and she looked fine,” Lewis said on Thursday. “We went back to the track, and she looked great.”

Lewis said another option for Warren’s Veneda is to stay at Santa Anita for the $100,000 Adoration Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on June 13. The Grade 3 Adoration might draw Beholder, who missed the Vanity Stakes because of illness and has resumed light training, trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday.

In the Phipps, Warren’s Veneda could face Untapable, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2014 and the winner of the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park last month.

“We’re weighing our options,” Lewis said. “The New York situation is not out. She could run again at Santa Anita. We’ve got some time to make a decision.”

Owned by breeder Ben Warren, Warren’s Veneda has won 8 of 23 starts and earned $863,612.

Mizdirection postponed again

The $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes was not run over the weekend because of wet conditions and a lack of entries. The race was originally scheduled for Saturday and then postponed to Sunday because of rain on Thursday and Friday.

The race failed to draw sufficient entries for Sunday and has been postponed until next Thursday. Entries will be taken Sunday. The Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares is run at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.