On Saturday at Santa Anita, all eyes will be on champion Beholder as she makes her final prep for the Breeders Cup Classic (G1) in the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes. A Grade 1 race carded at a mile and a sixteenth, she will face eight rivals.
The heavy favorite at odds of 2-5 on the morning line for trainer Richard Mandella, Beholder has won the Zenyatta Stakes (G1) for the past two years. She is undefeated from four starts this year and stepped up and took on male rivals successfully in the Pacific Classic (G1). The five-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes is a multiple Eclipse Award winner and will have jockey Gary Stevens in the irons from the outside post.
Second choice at 6-1 on the morning line is Warren’s Veneda for trainer Craig Lewis. A homebred for owner Bejamin Warren, the five-year-old California-bred mare is a multiple graded stakes winner and has been on the board in six of her seven starts this year. She was third last time out in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) and is scheduled to break from post position seven with regular rider Tyler Baze aboard.
Also in the field at morning line odds of 8-1 is My Sweet Addiction for trainer Martin Jones. A five-year-old daughter of Tiznow, she has been on the board in nine of her twelve starts and is a four-time winner. She won the Vanity Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita in May and has since struggled, finishing off the board in both recent starts. Mike Smith will be aboard and they will break from post position six.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
Pennsylvania Derby Picks and Preview
23 September 2016The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year....
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