Been Studying Her, Warren's Showtime face off in Soviet Problem

A pair of California-bred juveniles with exceptional bloodlines meet for a second time Saturday at Los Alamitos, and though Been Studying Her clobbered Warren’s Showtime last out, circumstances could produce a different result in the Soviet Problem Stakes.

Been Studying Her is undefeated in sprints, including two stakes, but the $100,000 Soviet Problem for Cal-bred fillies is a mile route. Warren’s Showtime is 2 for 3 in routes, including a stakes victory, but all three routes were on turf. The Soviet Problem is on dirt.

Aside from distance or footing challenges, the fillies share performance-pedigree attributes. Been Studying Her, by Fast Anna, is the third stakes winner from her dam; Warren’s Showtime, by Clubhouse Ride, is the first foal from a Grade 1 winner.

Siblings to the two are coming. Maddie’s Odyssey, dam of Been Studying Her, has a yearling by Indian Evening, a weanling by Straight Fire, and is in foal to Tapit. Warren’s Veneda, winner of the 2015 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita and dam of Warren’s Showtime, was bred back three times to Clubhouse Ride.

Been Studying Her and Warren’s Showtime are the lone stakes winners in the 10-runner Soviet Problem. The field also includes stakes-placed Smiling Shirlee and Cholula Lips.

Kevin and Kimberly Nish (KMN Racing) were new to the breeding business when advisors Jason Litt and Alex Solis II recommended the purchase of broodmare prospect Maddie’s Odyssey in late 2012. “They liked her conformation. They were the ones who guided us to her,” Kevin Nish said. “We had no part other than writing a check.”

It was $14,500 well spent. Maddie’s Odyssey’s early notoriety was in 2009, when she became the first winner sired by Kitten’s Joy. She developed into a claiming-caliber turf runner who won five races and $142,113 prior to becoming an outstanding broodmare.

Maddie’s Odyssey produced stakes winners Grecian Fire (Unusual Heat) and Sneaking Out (Indian Evening) prior to Been Studying Her. As for the Tapit she is carrying – Tapit stands for $200,000 – Nish laughed.

“We’ve had some success, but we don’t play at that level.”

The Tapit mating is a foal-sharing agreement with Gainesway.

Been Studying Her runs for Jerry Hollendorfer and assistant trainer Dan Ward. She has won 3 of 4, with her only loss a fourth in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Drayden Van Dyke will ride Been Studying Her.

Warren’s Showtime, a turf route stakes winner in fall, finished third to Been Studying Her last out at seven furlongs. The effort was better than it looks. Trainer Craig Lewis and jockey Jorge Velez opted to change strategy and use Warren’s Showtime’s speed.

“I think we kind of used her a little bit staying in the race,” Lewis said. “I had to take her out of her style. She prefers to make one big run.”

Warren’s Showtime, owned and bred by Ben Warren, benefits Saturday by two turns. “The farther they go, the better she is,” Lewis said. “We know she’s better around two turns, but she could be better on grass, as well. That is the issue – turf vs. dirt.”