Gregorian Chant, Leggs Galore add to D'Amato's turf sprint success

ARCADIA, Calif. - Through Sunday, there have been nine turf sprint stakes at the current Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. Trainer Phil D’Amato won seven of those races, including two stakes over the weekend with Gregorian Chant and Leggs Galore.

But the other stables can rest assured that one of them will win Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes for California-breds at six furlongs on turf. D’Amato does not have any runners nominated, nor any plans for a supplemental entry.

Gregorian Chant won the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes for his second consecutive win in a turf sprint Saturday. The Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf on May 29 is a long-term goal, but turf sprint stakes at Keeneland or Churchill Downs are a possibility in the interim.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report

D’Amato wants to keep Gregorian Chant in sprint stakes after Saturday’s win and an earlier victory in the Clocker’s Corner Stakes on Jan. 24.

“When you’re looking good at something like that, it’s hard to change it,” D’Amato said. “We may have to take the show on the road. We may find a race in advance of the Daytona.”

Leggs Galore won the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint for statebred fillies and mares on Jan. 16 and the Irish O’Brien Stakes for the same division on Sunday. She could appear in the $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes against open company at six furlongs on turf on April 17.