Warren's Showtime no cinch in California Distaff Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – A downhill sprint looks like an uphill climb for Warren’s Showtime on Saturday at Santa Anita, where the six-time stakes winner enters the California Distaff Handicap as the class of the field.

Trouble is, circumstances do not favor Warren’s Showtime in her first try on the hillside turf course. The distance is too short, a murky pace scenario might compromise her closing style, she packs high weight, and is unfamiliar with the layout.

On the other hand, Warren’s Showtime enters the $100,000 Cal-bred turf sprint with a key attribute – she is the best horse in the field. It may or may not be enough against stakes winners Bella Vita and Pulpit Rider, and allowance-class entrants Sedamar, Anna Fantastic, and Cassie Belle. Six fillies and mares entered California Distaff, race 7.

Trainer Craig Lewis has looked forward to starting Warren’s Showtime in a hillside sprint for reasons that include her burst of late speed. “She’s got a very quick turn of foot, and if things go right, if the pace is hot enough, I think she’ll be able to accelerate,” he said.

“Whether or not it’s too short for her, we’re going to find out,” Lewis added. “When a horse has never done something, you can’t say the horse can do it.”

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What he can say is Warren’s Showtime is the star of his stable. Owned and bred by Ben and Sally Warren, the 4-year-old Clubhouse Ride filly has won seven races and $715,431 from 20 starts, including a pair of Grade 3’s on the Santa Anita turf. But all her wins were at two turns. Warren’s Showtime is 0 for 5 in sprints, with four in-the-money finishes.

In addition to the 6 1/2-furlong distance and 124-pound weight assignment, Warren’s Showtime might be compromised by a lack of pace. None of her rivals are true front-runners, though Bella Vita and Anna Fantastic generally race near the front.

Finally, the hillside course at Santa Anita historically is a horse-for-course layout. But only one of the six California Distaff starters has raced on the hill. Route specialist Pulpit Rider finished third in a 2018 allowance race, then was unplaced in two later hill sprints.

Essentially, the entire field is in the same boat as Warren’s Showtime. “We don’t know which ones will like it, and which ones will dislike it,” Lewis said.

Juan Hernandez rides Warren’s Showtime, whose 3-year-old full brother Warrens Candy Man won a maiden-claiming race via disqualification on Monday. Their 2-year-old full sister Warren’s Showgirl makes her second start as a contender Saturday in race 9.

Bella Vita may vie for favoritism in the California Distaff based on a last-out 96-Beyer allowance win on dirt, and proven form on turf. Simon Callaghan trains Bella Vita, whose rider is Victor Espinoza. Bella Vita has won three races and $283,722 from 11 starts.

The California Distaff is the fourth hillside race since Santa Anita resumed use of the course this meet. Sixteen turf sprints have been run on the flat, including the two scheduled for Friday.