From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 12, 2022)–A pair of highly accomplished 5-year-old mares, Warren’s Showtime and Leggs Galore, head a competitive field of 12 older fillies and mares bred or sired in California in Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf at about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.
Prominent among a deep supporting cast is 6-year-old Sedamar, who comes off a big second place finish in her first-ever try down the hillside.
Classy, versatile and consistent, the Craig Lewis-conditioned Warren’s Showtime, a two-time graded stakes winner and seven-time overall stakes winning mare, comes off a solid second going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade III Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos Dec. 5 and will transition to a course she won over three starts back in the California Distaff Handicap Oct. 16.
By Clubhouse Ride out of the Grade I stakes winning Affirmative mare Warren’s Veneda, Warren’s Showtime was bred in California by Benjamin Warren and is owned by Warren and his wife Sally. She comes of yet another productive year, posting a 9-2-3-4 mark for 2021, with both of her wins (the California Distaff and the Grade III Wilshire Stakes) coming on turf. Third in the race a year ago, she will again be handled by Juan Hernandez. The leading money earner in the field with $814,431, Warren’s Showtime, who has been no worse than third in her last 16 starts, is 24-8-4-10 overall.
A smashing 3 ¼ length winner of last year’s Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint when it was run at six furlongs out of Santa Anita’s turf chute, the Phil D’Amato-trained Leggs Galore, idle since finishing fourth in the one mile turf Solana Beach Stakes Aug. 15, comes into the race fresh and very dangerous in what will be her first try down the hillside turf.
Owned by her breeder William Sims, speedy Leggs Galore, who is by 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern, is a front-running turf sprinter who will try to ration her considerable speed under regular rider Ricky Gonzalez. A three-time stakes winner, Leggs Galore, who tired to finish second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Warren’s Showtime in the one mile turf Wilshire Stakes on June 20, is six for nine on grass and six for 11 overall, with earnings of $350,208.
Trained by Shelbe Ruis, Sedamar, in her lone try down the hill, was second, beaten three quarters of a length by Warren’s Showtime in the California Distaff Oct. 16 and could likely stalk Leggs Galore in the early going under Joe Bravo. Although she’s been stakes placed on four occasions, including a close second in the Grade III Megahertz five races back on Jan. 18, 2021, Sedamar is still looking for her first stakes victory.
Out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Win Allison Win, Sedamar was bred in California by Mick Ruis and is owned by Ruis Racing, LLC. With all four of her wins coming on turf, Sedamar is 21-4-6-4 overall with earnings of $330,732.
THE SUNSHINE MILLIONS FILLY & MARE TURF SPRINT WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST ORDER
Race 8 of 10 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT
- Alice Marble–Flavien Prat–122
- California Kook–John Velazquez–122
- Super Game–Drayden Van Dyke–122
- Nardini–Kent Desormeaux–122
- Smiling Shirlee–Abel Cedillo–124
- Rebalation–Kyle Frey–124
- Nice Ice–Umberto Rispoli–122
- Governor Goteven–Tyler Baze–124
- Warren’s Showtime–Juan Hernandez–124
- Sedamar–Joe Bravo–122
- Eddie’s New Dream–Mario Gutierrez–122
- Leggs Galore–Ricardo Gonzalez–123
ALSO ELIGIBLE
- She’s Devoted–Umberto Rispoli–120
The Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint is one of five stakes on a 10-race card this Saturday, Cal Cup Day at Santa Anita. Early first post time is set for 12 noon. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m.