Beholder Goes for Zenyatta Repeat

Spendthrift Farm’s two-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) will mount a last-ditch effort to earn her third Eclipse Award as she tries to defend her title in the GI Zenyatta S. at Santa Anita today. The 2012 champion juvenile filly used this spot last year as a springboard to a 4 1/4-length score in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, which subsequently allowed her to snatch Eclipse honors from Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior). The Richard Mandella pupil reemerged with an easy comeback score in the Apr. 20 Santa Lucia S. at this trip, and could only manage a close fourth at even money behind leading older filly Close Hatches (First Defence), Princess of Sylmar and next-out GIII Shuvee H. winner Antipathy (A.P. Indy) in an excellent renewal of the GI Ogden Phipps S. June 7. She hasn’t been seen since then, but boasts an impressive record at the distance of 8-7-1-0 and four wins from five attempts in Arcadia. Hronis Racing’s Iotapa (Afleet Alex) may very well give Beholder all she can handle, however. The John Sadler-trained former claimer was second in the local seven-panel GII Santa Monica S. Jan. 25 before taking the Feb. 15 GII Santa Maria S. at this distance. She was second in the GI Santa Margarita S. a month later, and off the board on the cut back in Churchill’s May 3 GI Humana Distaff S., but produced a career-best effort back here June 14, annexing the GI Vanity S. by a disdainful 10 1/4 lengths with a gaudy 110 Beyer Speed Figure. The dark bay added a second victory at the highest level in the Del Mar’s Clement L. Hirsch S. Aug. 2. Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Tiz Midnight (Tiznow) is an interesting, up-and-coming alternative to the top two. Out of MGISW Tough Tiz’s Sis (Tiznow), who annexed this event in 2007 when it was the Lady’s Secret, the Bob Baffert trainee broke her maiden fourth out by 11 1/2 lengths here June 27. She went on to take a pair of one-mile Del Mar optional claimers Aug. 2 and Sept. 1, and will likely keep Iotapa honest up front if nothing else.