Warren's Veneda will skip Personal Ensign, stay in SoCal

DEL MAR, Calif. – The Grade 1 winner Warren’s Veneda will not start Aug. 29 in the $750,000 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga because of the lingering effects of a bruised foot, trainer Craig Lewis said Sunday.

Warren’s Veneda was third in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares Aug. 1 and was considered an outside candidate for the $1 million Pacific Classic next Saturday until the foot issue arose. Lewis said Warren’s Veneda has not rebounded quickly enough to justify a trip to Saratoga’s top race for older fillies and mares.

“I didn’t want to ship her that far to go around the track,” Lewis said.

As an alternative, Warren’s Veneda will be pointed for the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles Sept. 26 at Santa Anita, a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

“I’ll wait for the Zenyatta and hope for the Breeders’ Cup if she runs well,” Lewis said.

Owned by Ben Warren, Warren’s Veneda has won 8 of 26 starts and earned $931,612. She won the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational at Santa Anita in March.