Leggs Galore notches stakes hat trick with Mizdirection

ARCADIA, Calif. - For the second consecutive year, Leggs Galore has won three stakes at Santa Anita, completing her 2022 hat trick with Saturday’s $95,150 Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course.

For the second straight year, Leggs Galore has been the leading runner for jockey Ricky Gonzalez, who was aboard for all six of the stakes wins.

In 2021, Gonzalez rode Leggs Galore to wins in three stakes for statebred fillies and mares: the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, Irish O’Brien Stakes, and Fran’s Valentine Stakes.

In Saturday’s Mizdirection, Leggs Galore took her usual position at the front and never faced a significant threat.

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“She likes to go to the lead, and I let her do what she likes to do,” Gonzalez said in the winner’s circle. “When she gets the lead and gets comfortable, she has that kick.”

Leggs Galore ($3) won by a length over 8-1 Bye Bye Bertie, who closed steadily from fifth in a field of six to be closest to the front at the finish. Royal Address (9-1) finished third, followed by Bella D, Hear My Prayer, and Stella Noir.

Leggs Galore ran about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:13 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89.

Gonzalez had Leggs Galore on the lead through an opening quarter-mile in 22.12 seconds, closely tracked by Hear My Prayer, a minor stakes winner at Gulfstream Park in 2020. As the field progressed on the hillside portion of the course, Leggs Galore led by a wider margin.

Owned by Jack Sims and trained by Phil D’Amato, Leggs Galore has won 9 of 14 starts and earned $621,588.

Leggs Galore is unbeaten in three starts this year, having won the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on the hillside turf course for statebreds in January, and the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf on March 5.

A 5-year-old mare by Bayern, Leggs Galore missed an appearance in the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes earlier this spring after sustaining a minor injury in her stall.

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