Leggs Galore is well-drawn, has best speed in Irish O'Brien

In the last few months, Leggs Galore has replaced the retired Just Grazed Me as the top California-bred female turf sprinter in trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable.

Just Grazed Me, a four-time stakes winner who earned $506,332, was sent to Kentucky earlier this year to be bred.

Leggs Galore won her stakes debut in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint at six furlongs for statebreds on Jan. 16 at Santa Anita.

In Sunday’s $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita, Leggs Galore rates as a top contender along with Bella Vita, winner of the Spring Fever Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at six furlongs on dirt Feb. 21.

Both are 4-year-old fillies by Bayern. Leggs Galore was bred by owner Jack Sims. Bella Vita was purchased for $400,000 by Kaleem Shah at a 2-year-olds in training sale in 2019.

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The Irish O’Brien Stakes, which drew a field of eight, is the first meeting between Bella Vita and Leggs Galore. Bella Vita is quick enough to set the pace, but Leggs Galore is likely to have an early advantage.

Leggs Galore has won her last four starts, all in turf sprints at Del Mar and Santa Anita. In the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, Leggs Galore set the pace and won by 3 1/4 lengths over Nardini, who starts from the rail in the Irish O’Brien.

“Her confidence is sky high,” D’Amato said. “She’s got pretty good speed, the kind of speed that can put horses away early.”

Leggs Galore breaks from the outside, which should give jockey Ricardo Gonzalez a strategic advantage to gauge the progress of the other runners in the opening quarter-mile.

“I like where we drew,” D’Amato said. “She continues to train really well. She’s a straightforward filly.”

Bella Vita won a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita in February 2020, and was later third against open company in the China Doll Stakes at a mile on turf last March.

Bella Vita finished a close second in the Evening Jewel Stakes for 3-year-old statebred fillies at six furlongs on dirt last May and did not race again until the Spring Fever. Sent off as the 3-10 favorite, Bella Vita stalked the pace, took the lead on the turn, and pulled away for a comfortable win by 4 1/2 lengths.

“It was definitely a good performance,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “It wasn’t the strongest field, but she did it nicely.”

After winning the Spring Fever, there was a possibility Bella Vita could remain in dirt races, but the Irish O’Brien had too much appeal, Callaghan said.

“We know she handles the turf well,” he said. “She’s won on it. She’s doing really well. We decided this might be the best option at this stage. We’ve got a whole year in front of us.”

The Irish O’Brien Stakes is the 2021 debut of Pulpit Rider, who won the Solana Beach Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar last August. Pulpit Rider has not started in a turf sprint since January 2019.