Zenyatta Stakes (Grade 2) (BC)- $200.000 Purse
SA- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
September 28, 2025

A big race takes place on Sunday for fillies and mares as the 22nd running of the Zenyatta Stakes is held at SA. The race does offer a $200.000 purse, but the bigger prize is the automatic spot in the BC Distaff and the $2,000.000 purse that will be available at DMR in just a little over a month. Viking Vania made some history in this race by winning it in both 2018 and 2019, although her BC Distaff win was in 2017. Wicked Heat is another duel Zenyatta and BC Distaff winner, but it did not come in the same year. That only one to win each race in the same season was Better Miss back in 2009. 2024’s Zenyatta winner, Midnight Rumble for Riggins Racing, was an afterthought in the BC Distaff, and while she is still active, she is no longer running at this level. The gate is full as we look for our next big winner to talk about. Let’s take a look at them now:

1- Jawaher (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by P Lopez)- Ran a big one last time out, placing second in the Grade 1 Hirsch at DMR while earning a career high 101 SRF. In seven starts, the four-year-old filly has hit the board five times, with two trips to the winner’s circle. Her biggest win of the year came in June against NY-Breds in the $200.000 Critical Eye Handicap at SAR. Though she is able to hold her own pretty well at the graded level, she is still looking for her first win in such a race. That may be about to happen.

2- Viking Cat (Bigchief Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- This has been a good race for “Viking” horses, but it would be an upset if Viking Cat pulled off the win here. In fifteen starts, she’s only won once, coming at TUP in her ninth career start. Since then, she has been moved up and has put in some solid performances in ungraded races but her lone graded attempt two back did not go well. She’ll obviously need to be a lot better, which certainly can happen, but this is a tough field to do that against.

3- Wavy Girl (Saratoga Stud, ridden by R Bejarano)- The big question is what in the world happened to her last time out. Ran in the Personal Ensign at SAR and finished up the track, losing by six lengths. The problem too, is that the race before that she also struggled in the Grade 2 Shuvee, also at SAR. Maybe she just doesn’t like it at the Spa, but it’s harder to throw out back-to-back tough races than it is just a singular tough start. Needs to rebound with a good run here.

4- Valkyria (Alydar Stables, ridden by M E Smith)- Started off her three-year-old season by winning the Silverbulletday Stakes at FG, and continued to run well in KYO preps. That got her into the big race, where she ended up finishing a respectable sixth. Since then, it’s been more of the same for Valkyria, hitting the board in a couple of Grade 3’s, but she still has not won since the Silverbulletday. Her last race, the CT Oaks, may have been too short for her, so we can toss that out for this one.

5- Whoop Whoop (The Sidley Stud, ridden by A Castellanos)- After a strong finish in her three-year-old season, Whoop Whoop has taken on tougher company this year and has handled it well. In late July, she won the Grade 3 Trillium Stakes at WO, which is her biggest win to date. The Sidley Stud is to be commended for his work with this filly who passed through a couple barns before getting her. The best is probably yet to come for her but does enter this on just two weeks of rest.

6- Exulted Rene (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by F Geroux)- Last July, she won an allowance at LS which led to her being upgraded to graded competition. She has not won since, but as we often see with this trainer, she continues to get the opportunities to prove herself. Most of those races came on the turf, and she has hit the board at times, but not with consistency. Was dropped into an allowance at FL for her last start, where she was beaten by three lengths.

7- Spring Street (High Voltage, ridden by F Prat)- This five-year-old is just a bit shy of $1,000.000 for her career, but will need to bounce back from back-to-back fifth place finishes. Those came in the Personal Ensign and the Pitcher Stakes, though prior to that she was much better, with three straight first or second place finishes. That includes a win right here in April at the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes. The trainer hopes a return to the scene of that victory can ger her rolling again.

8- Tracking Device (Spankys Barn, ridden by D Van Dyke)- About a year ago, the trainer added her to his stable in the auction for $95.010. She was clearly a horse with potential at that point, and while she did not get big results for her new connections right away, recently she has begun to hit her best form. While sprinting, she has won two of her last three, including the Grade 3 Bernardo Handicap at DMR. Only gone long once, and did not cash a check in the race, and that is the biggest question surrounding her here.

9- Shes A Looker (Nakamura Stables, ridden by I Castillo)- While the trainer’s big gun in this division, Soliloquy Sunset was making headlines, Shes A Looker was also being productive, winning three of her first four races, and then later the Bourbonette Oaks at TP. That win allowed her to join her stablemate in the KYO, though she turned in a flat effort. After another race like that in June, Shes A Looker bounced back with a win in the IND Oaks and seems to have righted her ship.

10- Boardwalk Authority (Winning Link Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Picked up by the trainer in the Smokey Stover dispersal sale, and was a regular stake entrant for that trainer. With Winning Link Stables, she was entered in overnights at first but has since been moved up and has performed very well. At SAR, she picked up a pair of third place finishes, first in the Shuvee, but then in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign. She accomplished this with two very different running styles as well. Still looking for that true signature win on her resume, maybe that can be the Zenyatta.

11- Flyingbolt (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by B Curtis)- This is definitely the veteran of the group, as the seven-year-old mare makes her 51st career start. Over that time, she has 18 wins but would love to make her 52nd start be her first appearance in the BC. Though she is winless in 2025, she has been effective, hitting the board four times with a couple of very close calls. Last time out, she was fourth in the Personal Ensign, though lost by three lengths.

12- Reflex Action (The Sidley Stud, ridden by M Franco)- In December 2023, Reflex Action won the Grade 2 Demoiselle, but has not been back to the winner’s circle since. She’s had many chances since then, but on many occasions, she’s filled the role of a back marker each time out. Picked up by The Sidley Stud in December, and she has been more competitive, but this is a tough assignment.

Prediction: 1-10-3-5

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES