Che Evasora makes U.S. debut in Zenyatta; Straight No Chaser returns in SA Sprint Championship

Che Evasora, winner of a Breeders’ Cup Challenge event in her native Argentina, will make her stateside debut in Sunday’s $200,000 Zenyatta (G2) at Santa Anita. Two races later, Straight No Chaser launches another comeback in the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2).

Zenyatta (G2): Race 7, 7 p.m. ET

With the sudden retirement of Adare Manor, the older female division in Southern California is bereft of its longtime leader. The Zenyatta presents an opportunity for others to step out of her shadow in the final local prep for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

Che Evasora, who earned her Distaff ticket as a 57-1 longshot in the May 1 Gran Premio Criadores (G1) at Palermo, would appear to be an unlikely claimant. Aside from the question mark regarding acclimation for a six-year-old mare from the Southern Hemisphere, she’s been competing over distances much longer than the Zenyatta’s 1 1/16 miles.

Chilean import Mbagnick, who hasn’t progressed as a router stateside, hopes to reinvent himself for new trainer Marcelo Polanco. Other contenders include See Through It, fourth in the Bing Crosby (G1) two back; class-climbing Roll on Big Joe; and Emerald Downs shipper Neiman.