Warren's Showtime has enough talent to overcome hurdles in Evening Jewel Stakes

Six furlongs is too short for Warren’s Showtime, and dirt is not her preferred surface. But the multiple stakes winner enters the $150,000 Evening Jewel Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita with one undeniable attribute.

Warren’s Showtime is simply the best horse in the field.

“She’s better around two turns and maybe grass,” trainer Craig Lewis admitted. “But she’s a very good filly, and good horses do good things.”

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Three turf-route stakes victories propelled 4-for-7 Warren’s Showtime to the top of the California-bred 3-year-old filly division. Trouble is, the Evening Jewel is at six furlongs on dirt.

Ten entered the Evening Jewel, a race with an abundance of speed. Bulletproof One, the 5-2 program favorite, has won five races, leading gate to wire in each of them. Speedy Gigi has won both her starts on the front end. Bella Vita and Dim Lights won maiden races leading throughout.

Warren’s Showtime, a closer listed at 3-1 by linemaker Jon White, benefits from the pace scenario. The other entrants are Smiling Shirlee, Been Studying Her, Warrior’s Moon, Florentine Diamond, and Homehome.

Ben and Sally Warren own Warren’s Showtime, a Clubhouse Ride filly produced by Grade 1 winner Warren’s Veneda. In normal times, Warren’s Showtime would have continued a turf-route campaign and aimed for the Belmont Oaks in early July. Instead, she will cut back to a sprint and try to win by rallying from behind under Jorge Velez.

Speedy Gigi gets tested for class after winning a maiden race at Turf Paradise for trainer Dan McFarlane and an 870-yard dash at Los Alamitos for trainer Andrew Lerner.

“This is an acid test,” Lerner said. “We’re going to find out how good she really is.”

Melissa Ford owns and bred Speedy Gigi, a Calimonco filly whose weapon is speed. Edwin Maldonado has worked the filly and rides her Saturday. Speedy Gigi drew post 6, outside her main pace rivals.

Speedy Gigi is fast, and so is Lerner. In just his third year as a trainer, he has built his stable to nearly 40 horses. Speedy Gigi found her way to Lerner based partly on his first career victory Aug. 17, 2017.

In the Del Mar grandstand that day, Lerner met Ford, who asked the young trainer for his card after he won a claiming race with Be a Lady. More than two years later, out of the blue, Ford called to ask Lerner if he would be interested in training Speedy Gigi.

“We’re 1 for 1 together,” Lerner said.

Speedy Gigi may or may not win the Evening Jewel, but she will impact the pace.

“It takes her about two strides out of the gate, but once she gets going, she’s pretty fast,” Lerner said. “She’s pretty relentless.”