GR I Beldame and GR I Zenyatta Stake's

[TJ]

The ladies get their chance to compete in two GR I events with a fee's paid berth to this years BC Distaff. On the east coast, Stopchargingmaria tries older for the first time, while Beholder attempts to win her 2nd Zenyatta S. in a row. The Zenyatta S. was run previously named The Lady's Secret. Entries and past performance's below. TJ

5th Race. (C6) Approx Post 3:00PM STAKES
THE BELDAME Grade I - Purse $400,000 (Up to $44,000 NYSBFOA) One Mile And One Eighth
FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
1 Endless Chatter(L) B.f.4 123 Ortiz, Jr., I Alpha Delta Stables Brown, Chad
2 Toasting(L) Ch.f.4 123 Castellano, J West Point Thoroughbreds Albertrani, Thomas
3 Stopchargingmaria(L) Dk B/ Br.f.3 120 Velazquez, J Repole Stable Pletcher, Todd
4 Stanwyck(L) B.m.5 123 Maragh, R Moss, Mr. & Mrs. J S Shirreffs, John
5 Fiftyshadesofhay(L) B.f.4 123 Rosario, J Pegram, M Baffert, Bob
6 Oasis At Midnight(L) Dk B/ Br.f.4 123 Franco, M Rousso, D Orseno, Joseph
7 Belle Gallantey(L) Ch.m.5 123 Ortiz, J Dubb, M Rodriguez, Rudy
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_viewe ... am3=664620

5th Race. (C9) The 3rd Running of the Zenyatta Stakes (Grade I)
Purse $300,000 Guaranteed One Mile And One Sixteenth
FOR FILLIES AND MARES, THREE-YEARS-OLD AND UPWARD.
1 TIZ MIDNIGHT (L) '10 F 119 Espinoza, V Watson or Weitman Bob Baffert
2 IOTAPA (L) '10 F 124 Talamo, J Hronis Racing, LLC John W. Sadler
3 YAHILWA (L) '10 F 119 Bejarano, R DP Racing, LLC James M. Cassidy
4 BEHOLDER (L) '10 F 121 Smith, M Spendthrift Farm, LLC Richard Mandella
5 WITTGENSTEIN (IRE)(S) (L) '10 F 119 Gutierrez, M Reddam Racing, LLC Doug O'Neill
6 TIZ THE KEY (L) '11 F 116 Baze, T Spendthrift Farm, LLC Richard Mandella
(S) Denotes Supplementary Nominations.
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_viewe ... am3=835810

[Cree]

I can't get past Beholder in the Zenyatta.
Beholder has fired off of a lay-off before, and she's obviously the class of this field. Unless she's lost a step, and/or that injury did something to her, she should win this like the 2-time champion that she is. She is poetry in motion. Mandella has been working her steadily, but she did miss a week.....so perhaps he doesn't have her exactly where he wants her. The eye is on the prize (BC Distaff), so if she doesn't win this, but runs well, I like her going ahead into the Distaff.
I like Iotapa, she's consistent and tough, and not to be taken lightly. I also like the Baffert filly.

Beholder
Iotapa
Tiz Midnight

As for the head-scratching Beldame.
Endless Chatter seems to be going the right way.
I don't think Toasting is a G1 mare.
I haven't been overly impressed by Stopcharingmaria (the time of the Alabama was slowwwwww). This isn't the weak 3-year-old fillies.
I've never been a fan of Fiftyshadesofhay, she's a cut below the best. But the best isn't in here.
Belle Gallantey might freak again, or might not. I cannot get a read on that one.

I like:

Fiftyshadesofhay
Endless Chatter
Belle Gallantey

[TJ]

Here are the replays. TJ
Beldame: http://www1.drf.com/displayVideo.do?tra ... ountry=USA
Zenyatta S: http://www1.drf.com/displayVideo.do?tra ... ountry=USA

[dublino]

Crazy to sell Beholder - Spendthrift in a bad way?

Can't see the logic behind it - for what $2-$4m - madness you could recoup that on her first 3-4 foals and still have her as a mare.

[ct2346]

I agree, but when you think of this iteration of Spendthrift, you think of stallions. And she is worth just too much to be used to support one of them. She's risen way above that and is now iconic.

Thinking about it - she is probably one of the top 5 racemares I have ever seen...and that goes back into the late 60's.