Warren's Showtime must run down Leggs Galore in Solana Beach Stakes
She has a favorable post, a graded stakes win in her last start, and a stalking style that has proved to be effective throughout her career. There is a lot to like about Warren’s Showtime’s chances in Sunday’s $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at Del Mar.
“I’m optimistic, but everything has to go right,” trainer Craig Lewis said. “Not only do I train her, but I’m a big fan of the filly.”
Warren’s Showtime will be favored to win her seventh stakes in her 21st start in the Solana Beach, run at a mile on turf.
To do so, she must catch Leggs Galore. The two have been the winning exacta combination in their last two meetings, with Leggs Galore winning the Fran’s Valentine Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at a mile on May 9 at Santa Anita. Warren’s Showtime was beaten three-quarters of a length after a troubled start.
In the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes on June 20 at Santa Anita, Warren’s Showtime caught the speedy Leggs Galore in the final furlong.
“I hope she repeats that one,” said Ben Warren, who bred and owns Warren’s Showtime with his wife, Sally.
Sunday, Warren’s Showtime drew the outside post in a field of seven and will be ridden by Juan Hernandez. The 4-year-old Warren’s Showtime will have a clear target in Leggs Galore, a three-time stakes winner.
Lewis respects his main rival.
“If she gets loose, she might make it,” he said.
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Leggs Galore, 4, set the pace in the Wilshire and was beaten 1 1/4 lengths. In the last month, Leggs Galore has worked steadily on turf at Del Mar, catching trainer Phil D’Amato’s attention with her last two workouts. D’Amato was particularly enthused by Leggs Galore’s five-furlong workout in 1:00.20 on Aug. 1.
“Her last two breezes have been spectacular,” he said.
Leggs Galore is the quickest runner in the field and has repeatedly shown the ability to set a fast pace. She has made the transition from a turf sprinter in the winter to a miler in recent starts.
“If they want to come with her, be ready to go 1:10 and change and keep going,” D’Amato said of a potential quick pace through six furlongs. “She’s sharp and ready to go.”
Ricky Gonzalez has ridden Leggs Galore to five wins in her last seven starts and has the mount Sunday.
The field includes Pulpit Rider, an 11-1 winner of the 2020 Solana Beach Stakes. Pulpit Rider, trained by Mike Puype, is winless in four subsequent starts. Pulpit Rider was third in the Fran’s Valentine and sixth in an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on turf against open company July 16.
Sedamar, a 5-year-old mare trained by Shelbe Ruis, was second by a nose to Pulpit Rider in the 2020 Solana Beach. Sedamar has yet to win a stakes, but was second in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita in January.
More recently, Sedamar was a good fourth in the restricted Osunitas Stakes at a mile on turf July 17 after racing in traffic with more than a furlong remaining. Sedamar closed with interest to miss by 1 1/4 lengths in her first start since February.