From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (May 6, 2021)–Ben and Sally Warren’s classy homebred Warren’s Showtime heads a field of six California-bred fillies mares and four and up in Sunday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes, to be contested at one mile over the Santa Anita turf.
William Sims’ homebred Leggs Galore, who had a five-race win streak snapped in her most recent start, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams’ multiple stakes winning Pulpit Rider, Kaleem Shah’s stakes winning Bella Vita, Red Baron’s Barn’s homebred Lofty, who makes her second start off a long layoff and trainer Ray Bell’s consistent Kristi’s Tiger all rate solid chances in the race named for the late Earl Scheib’s multiple Grade I winning millionaire daughter of Saros.
The Fran’s Valentine is part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA and is for eligible California-bred or sired horses.
Trained by Craig Lewis, Warren’s Showtime comes off a pair of solid third place finishes in Grade II stakes at one mile on turf, the Royal Heroine on April 3 and Buena Vista on Feb. 20. A 4-year-old filly by top California-based sire Clubhouse Ride, Warren’s Showtime is out of the Warren’s Grade I stakes winning mare Warren’s Veneda.
A winner of the Grade III Autumn Miss Stakes at one mile on turf six starts back on Oct. 17, Warren’s Showtime is a five-time stakes winner, with four of those victories coming at a mile on grass. Third in last year’s Fran’s Valentine, Warren’s Showtime has been a gem of consistency under the care of Lewis, evidenced by her overall record of 18-6-1-9. Third in her last four starts, she’s the leading money earner in the field with $617,431 and will be ridden for the sixth consecutive time by Juan Hernandez.
Speedy Leggs Galore, who went off as the 6-5 favorite in the six furlong turf Mizdirection Stakes April 17, was denied the front-running trip that she’d been able to execute in four out of her five previous wins and ended up a well beaten sixth. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Leggs Galore, a 4-year-old filly by Bayern out of the Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, will be trying two turns for the first time in what will be her ninth start and can be expected to go to the early lead on Sunday.
With five wins from eight starts, Leggs Galore has earnings of $262,708 and will be handled by regular rider Ricky Gonzalez.
Far back early, the Mike Puype-trained Pulpit Rider came running to be fifth, beaten 4 ¾ lengths in the six furlong Irish O’Brien Stakes versus statebreds here on March 14. Idle since Sept. 5, Pulpit Rider should improve by many with a race under her belt and a return to a route. With Juan Hernandez opting to stay with Warren’s Showtime, Pulpit Rider, a three-time stakes winner, will be ridden for the first time by leading man Flavien Prat.
A 6-year-old mare by Lucky Pulpit, out of the multiple stakes winning Ride the Rails mare Lady Railrider, Pulpit Rider, has earnings of $465,177 from an overall mark of 26-6-1-4, will be making her third appearance in the Fran’s Valentine.
A non-threatening fifth against graded stakes competition in a seven furlong classified allowance April 17, trainer Simon Callaghan’s Bella Vita takes a notable drop in class and rates a huge chance with Umberto Rispoli back aboard. A close third after pressing the early pace in her only try at one mile on turf, the ungraded China Doll Stakes, five starts back on March 7, 2020, Bella Vita was second to Leggs Galore two starts back in the Irish O’Brien Stakes.
A winner versus statebreds on the main track of the six furlong Spring Fever Stakes three starts back on Feb. 21, Bella Vita, a 4-year-old filly by Bayern out of the Storm Cat mare Queenie Cat, sports an overall mark of 7-2-3-1 and will be making her fifth stakes appearance.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Lofty comes off a solid third place finish versus open company going six furlongs on turf April 18, a race she no doubt needed, having been idle since May 29. A 4-year-old filly by Suances, out of the Successful Appeal mare Loni’s Appeal, Lofty, a three-time winner sprinting on turf, can be expected to vie for early command with Leggs Galore. With an overall mark of 8-3-3-1 and earnings of $134,708, she’ll be making her first stakes appearance.
Owned by Richard A. Bell and Clark Brewster, Kristi’s Tiger comes off a last to first allowance win versus statebreds at 6 ½ furlongs on turf and should get a stalking trip under Tyler Baze, who replaces Rispoli, as he’s opted to stay with Bella Vita. A 4-year-old daughter of Smiling Tiger, out of the Indian Charlie mare Lottawampum, Kristi’s Tiger brings an overall mark of 12-4-4-1 and earnings of $159,000.
THE FRAN’S VALENTINE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT
- Leggs Galore–Ricardo Gonzalez–120
- Kristi’s Tiger–Tyler Baze–120
- Lofty–Abel Cedillo–120
- Bella Vita–Umberto Rispoli–120
- Warren’s Showtime–Juan Hernandez–124
- Pulpit Rider–Flavien Prat–124
First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.