Leggs Galore holds off Going to Vegas in Buena Vista Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. - Leggs Galore was eight lengths clear on the backstretch of the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday when jockey Ricky Gonzalez decided to focus on the 5-year-old mare’s effort and not the nine chasing runners.
“I didn’t want to look back,” Gonzalez said. “I knew she was comfortable and I let her do her thing.”
A naturally quick mare, Leggs Galore’s lead was reduced to 3 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining in the one-mile race, and 2-1 favorite Going to Vegas closing well. The last 100 yards provided a thrill for backers of Leggs Galore and Going to Vegas, with Leggs Galore holding on by a half-length for the most prestigious win of her career.
“I knew I still had horse and I was hoping I’d get to the wire,” Gonzalez said. “I knew it was close.”
Leggs Galore ($6.80) ran a mile on turf in 1:34.29 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89.
“It was an ambitious ride and he believed in the filly,” winning trainer Phil D’Amato said. “He knew he could use her speed.”
Going to Vegas, a slight 2-1 favorite over Leggs Galore, finished three-quarters of a length in front of 9-2 Closing Remarks.
The $202,500 Buena Vista Stakes was the first start for Going to Vegas since she finished 11th of 12 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar in November.
Going to Vegas was ridden by Flavien Prat, who thought he had the measure of Leggs Galore turning into the stretch.
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“At the eighth pole, I thought she was going to stop and I’d go on by,” Prat said. “She never did.”
Mucho Unusual finished fourth, followed by Canoodling, Avenue de France, Tony Ann, Keeper of Time, Fast Jet Court, and Madone.
Leggs Galore, owned and bred by Jack Sims, has won 8 of 13 starts and earned $560,208. The Buena Vista was her second appearance in a graded stakes in a career that began with 10th- and eighth-place finishes at Oaklawn Park in March and April of 2020, her only starts on dirt.
Leggs Galore was second to Warren’s Showtime in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita last June. Leggs Galore has won four stakes against statebred fillies and mares, including the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on Jan. 15 in her only other start this year.