Leggs Galore notches fifth consecutive win with Irish O'Brien Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Leggs Galore tore away at the start and was unbothered by six rivals throughout Sunday’s $101,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-bred fillies and mare at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Ricardo Gonzalez, Leggs Galore ($4.60) led by as many as four lengths on the turn, and cruised to a cozy win by 2 1/4 lengths over 8-5 Bella Vita for her second consecutive stakes win.

“She’s so fast,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez would know. He has ridden Leggs Galore to four of her five consecutive wins. Leggs Galore is unbeaten on turf since switching surfaces last year following two losses on dirt at Oaklawn Park last spring.

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Earlier this year, Leggs Galore won the $152,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint for statebred fillies and mares at six furlongs by an equally impressive 3 1/4 lengths.

In the Irish O’Brien Stakes, Leggs Galore started from the outside post and set a solid pace of 21.94 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.37 for a half-mile. Leggs Galore finished in 1:08.17 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93.

Bella Vita, the winner of the $101,000 Spring Fever Stakes for statebred fillies and mares on dirt here Feb. 21, closed from third to be closest to Leggs Galore at the finish.

Sadie Bluegrass, a 5-1 shipper from Golden Gate Fields, stalked the pace and finished third, 4 1/2 lengths behind Leggs Galore.

Nardini, second in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, finished fourth, followed by Pulpit Rider, Sapphire Kid, and Scarlet Heat. Cassie Belle was scratched earlier Sunday.

Leggs Galore races for owner and breeder Jack Sims and is trained by Phil D’Amato.

A 4-year-old by Bayern, Leggs Galore has won 5 of 7 starts and has earned $262,208.

“I’ve been learning each time with this filly,” D’Amato said. “The less I train her, the better she runs. She stays fresh. She broke like a rocket.”