Buena Vista presents distance challenge for Leggs Galore, Going to Vegas

ARCADIA, Calif. – One turf mare rose higher in class than anyone expected last year, the other turf mare will race a distance farther than she might prefer this year.

Going to Vegas, a claiming filly-turned-Grade 1 winner, and Leggs Galore, a sprint stakes winner trying to carry her speed two turns, meet for the first time Saturday in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita.

Both 5-year-olds face questions in the $200,000 grass mile for fillies and mares, race 5. Going to Vegas returns from a four-month layoff and wants a longer trip.

“That’s not the ideal distance for her, going a mile,” trainer Richard Baltas acknowledged.

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Leggs Galore has won long, but has had most of her success in sprints. Trainer Phil D’Amato believes she can stay against top company.

“I definitely think she can go a mile,” he said.

Referring to her last-out win a Cal-bred sprint stakes, D’Amato said, “She won in pretty dominating fashion and galloped out well.”

Going to Vegas and Leggs Galore are the principals in a deep Buena Vista field. Mucho Unusual is a Grade 1 winner. Other graded, group, or restricted stakes winners in the field include Closing Remarks, Keeper of Time, Madone, Fast Jet Court, Avenue de France, and Canoodling. Javanica is stakes-placed; Toby Ann has won her last three.

Distance-challenged or not, front-runner Leggs Galore will dictate the tempo. A three-time turf-sprint stakes winner, she went 1 for 3 last year at one mile. Her impressive sprint comeback suggests she has improved.

Leggs Galore set a comfortable pace in the downhill turf sprint and was strong to the wire under Ricky Gonzalez. Can she go long?

“That’s the first question I asked Ricky when she came back,” D’Amato said. “He said she’s definitely ready to go long.”

The win by Leggs Galore was flattered when stablemate, and runner-up, Alice Marble returned to win a minor stakes. Since switching to turf, Leggs Galore has won 7 of 10, all for owner-breeder William Simms.

Going to Vegas came to Baltas in June 2020 when she was claimed for $50,000, and she was sold to her current owners after running second in the Grade 1 American Oaks in December 2020. It took a while to reach full potential, which she did in 2021, winning three graded races, including a Grade 1.

“Beyond anyone’s expectations,” Baltas said. “A horse we claimed and sold and made money. The guys that bought her made money, and they decided to race her another year.”

Going to Vegas made her first start for her current ownership group in last year’s Buena Vista. She finished fourth, switched riders, and emerged as one of the top female turf runners in California. Flavien Prat rides Going to Vegas, who has won seven races and $634,151 from 23 starts. Her tactical speed should allow her to overcome post 10.

Mucho Unusual missed a start in late January when a virus went through trainer Tim Yakteen’s stable.

“It was minor, but enough to where we had to be conservative,” he said. “We’re all set. We’re good to go.”

John Velazquez rides Mucho Unusual, who has won eight races and $945,415 from 23 starts, all for owner-breeder George Krikorian.