Fran's Valentine gives Warren's Showtime relief from the big girls

The fillies and mares Warren’s Showtime chased in recent stakes at Santa Anita are bound for the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on May 31. Warren’s Showtime is not part of that race – for now – and has a presumably easier goal in Sunday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Owned by Ben and Sally Warren, Warren’s Showtime was third by 1 3/4 lengths behind Charmaine’s Mia and Mucho Unusual in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf Feb. 20, and third by the same margin behind Charmaine’s Mia and Dogtag in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at a mile on turf April 3.

Charmaine’s Mia, Mucho Unusual, and Dogtag are expected to start in the Gamely.

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In the Buena Vista and Royal Heroine, Warren’s Showtime closed steadily. A similar trip in the six-runner Fran’s Valentine may produce a better result. The 4-year-old fillies Leggs Galore and Lofty have ample speed, and should ensure a quick pace.

“She shows up every time,” trainer Craig Lewis said of Warren’s Showtime. “I don’t know if we have any kind of advantage. I think she’ll run well. She should run well.”

Warren’s Showtime has won 6 of 18 starts and earned $617,431, but is in the midst of a five-race losing streak, since a victory in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita last October. Since then, Warren’s Showtime has been second or third in five stakes.

In January, Warren’s Showtime was third behind Leggs Galore in the Sunshine Million Filly and Mare Turf Sprint for California-breds at six furlongs on turf, closing well despite a troubled trip. Warren’s Showtime has consistently run well at a mile on turf since the summer of 2019.

Leggs Galore will start in the longest race of her career in the Fran’s Valentine. Leggs Galore is quick, and her draw on the inside tips the way she will be ridden by jockey Ricky Gonzalez. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Leggs Galore won five consecutive starts in sprints, including two stakes for statebred fillies and mares, before she finished last of six in the Mizdirection Stakes at six furlongs on turf against open company on April 17.

Leggs Galore stalked the pace in the Mizdirection and was out of contention in early stretch.

“When she didn’t get the lead, she didn’t fire through the stretch,” D’Amato said.

“I’m sure we’ll be on the lead this time going long, where she likes to be. I think we’re committed from the one hole to go. Hopefully we can control the pace and see what happens.”

Leggs Galore could face early pressure from Lofty, who was supplemented to the Fran’s Valentine for $2,000.

Pulpit Rider, the winner of the Solana Beach Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar last August, and Bella Vita, second to Leggs Galore in the Irish O’Brien Stakes in March, would also benefit greatly from a speed duel and may pose the greatest threats to Warren’s Showtime.