Main track no problem for Warren's Showtime and Just Grazed Me in Betty Grable Stakes

It is easy to consider Just Grazed Me and Warren’s Showtime as turf horses.

Just Grazed Me has won three stakes on turf, but also the Fleet Treat Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies on dirt at Del Mar in 2018. Warren’s Showtime has won five stakes on turf, and the Melair Stakes on dirt for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita in June.

Their ability on dirt makes them standout runners in Sunday’s $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at seven furlongs.

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Now, the weather needs to cooperate. On Friday, the trainer of Warren’s Showtime, Craig Lewis, said he was watching for a potential rainstorm.

“I’m not going to run if I don’t like the circumstances,” he said.

If conditions are favorable, Lewis expects a peak performance from Warren’s Showtime, who races for Ben and Sally Warren.

Warren’s Showtime won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 17, her first graded stakes win. Lewis said he was equally encouraged by Warren’s Showtime’s win in the Melair Stakes at 1 1/16 miles after she raced wide.

“I think it was probably her best performance,” he said of the May race. “She had a trouble-prone trip and overcame it. She gave up a lot of ground.”

In the Autumn Miss, Warren’s Showtime was the 7-10 favorite. She closed from fifth in a field of seven in the final quarter-mile to win by a neck.

“Anytime you win a $100,000 race or a graded race, it’s a good result,” Lewis said. “I have to confess I had my doubts about her getting there. “

Warren’s Showtime, who tends to run from off the pace, will be ridden by Juan Hernandez, her fourth different rider in as many races. Flavien Prat was aboard for the Autumn Miss, but on Sunday rides Mo See Cal, who has not started since a third-place finish in the 2019 Betty Grable Stakes.

Just Grazed Me, the mount of Umberto Rispoli, drew the outside post in a field of eight. A 5-year-old mare owned by Nick Alexander, Just Grazed Me often runs from a stalking position. This is her first start on dirt since a win in an allowance race at Los Alamitos in December 2018 that was preceded by a second in the Betty Grable Stakes.

Just Grazed Me worked five furlongs at Del Mar in 1:00.40 on Monday.

“Her last breeze at Del Mar was ultra-impressive,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “I broke her off about two lengths behind another horse and she swallowed that horse in midstretch and was in cruise control.”

Just Grazed Me won the California Distaff Handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 10 in her first start since late May. It was her first win in four starts this year. The 1-2 favorite, she closed from third in a field of five to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I think I only had her about 80 percent cranked,” D’Amato said. “I think she’s moved forward from that race.”