Warren's Showtime opts for softer company in Golden State Juvenile Fillies

ARCADIA, Calif. – With her win in the Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf on Oct. 6 at Santa Anita, Warren’s Showtime had the credentials to start in a Breeders’ Cup race on Friday, such as the $2 million Juvenile Fillies or $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Trainer Craig Lewis said he was approached by Breeders’ Cup officials, inquiring about his plans. Lewis and owners Ben and Sally Warren passed on those races. Warren’s Showtime will instead start in Friday’s $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies for 2-year-old California-bred fillies at seven furlongs.

The race is part of the undercard prior to five Breeders’ Cup races.

“I’d prefer not to run her against those fillies at this time,” Lewis said of his Breeders’ Cup options.

The Golden State Juvenile Fillies drew a robust group of 12. Warren’s Showtime is one of three stakes winners in the field, along with Bulletproof One, who won two stakes for statebreds at Pleasanton and Del Mar in the summer, and Been Studying Her, a stakes winner against statebreds at Del Mar and the fourth-place finisher in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes here Sept. 27.

Those fillies won sprint stakes. Lewis said that one drawback for Warren’s Showtime in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies is the distance.

“I’m happy with her,” Lewis said. “The seven-eighths might be a little short. I think the farther she goes, the better.”

Warren’s Showtime has won 2 of 4 starts, with both victories at a mile on turf. She races as a stalker and may be positioned near Been Studying Her in the opening three furlongs.

“She’s the horse to beat,” Lewis said of Been Studying Her.

Trained by Dan Ward, Been Studying Her was beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Bast in the Chandelier. Bast is entered in the BC Juvenile Fillies, along with Comical and K P Dreamin, who were second and third in the Chandelier.

Golden State Juvenile

Del Mar stakes winner Square Deal is likely to be a lukewarm favorite in Friday’s $200,000 Golden State Juvenile for 2-year-old California-breds at seven furlongs.

Square Deal won the I’m Smokin Stakes for statebreds at six furlongs on Aug. 30. He was fifth in the Speakeasy Stakes at five furlongs on turf on Oct. 6.

Flavien Prat had the mount in the Speakeasy and I’m Smokin and will ride Square Deal again on Friday.

“Flavien said he’s more of a dirt horse,” trainer Simon Callaghan said.

The Golden State Juvenile drew a field of 13 and will be the stakes debut for Cali Dude and Chipper, who were first and second in a solid maiden special weight race for statebreds at 6 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 5.

Trainer John Sadler starts Cali Dude and Doc Tommy, a maiden special weight winner at Golden Gate Fields in August who recently joined his stable.

There is a rare California-bred shipper from another state in Great Ulysses, who is trained in Kentucky by Brad Cox. Great Ulysses won his debut in a maiden special weight race on Sept. 5 at Indiana Downs and was fourth in a productive allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option on Oct. 5 at Keeneland.

South Bend, who won the optional claimer, won the Street Sense Stakes last Sunday at Churchill Downs.