From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2019)–Patiently handled at odds of 35-1, Ben and Sally Warren’s California-bred Warren’s Showtime rallied from off the pace to take Sunday’s $100,00 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita by three quarters of a length under apprentice Jorge Velez. Trained by Craig Lewis, the daughter of Clubhouse Ride got one mile on turf in 1:35.06.
Next to last and about three lengths off the lead heading into the far turn, Warren’s Showtime, who is out of the Warren’s Grade I stakes winning mare Warren’s Veneda, saved ground at the rail, kicked into high gear straightening for home and collared pacesetter Savvy Gal a sixteenth of a mile out en route to victory.
A much-troubled eighth in a one mile turf stakes at Del Mar Sept. 2, Warren’s Showtime, one of two California-bred juvenile fillies in a field of six, paid $72.00, $18.20 and $5.80.
“I’m very grateful, luck is on my side,” said Lewis, who also conditioned the winner’s sire and dam, and is part owner of Clubhouse Ride, who picked up his first stakes win as a stallion today and is currently based at Harris Farms in Coalinga. “I said on the radio this morning that this filly had a chance. She got wiped out in her last race at Del Mar and when you lose position early like that on the turf, you have no chance.
“I just told Jorge that I’d like him to ride her like he rode Blue Skye Jade (a 3-year-old Clubhouse Ride gelding that ran second from off the pace in a $25,000 claimer at one mile on turf) on Friday. Just be patient and it looked like there was a lot of speed in the race. He’s very patient for a young apprentice, he can really wait. The late great Bobby Frankel used to say, ‘I’d rather get beat staying inside on the turf than trying to win when you lose ground.’”
With the winner’s share of $60,000, Warren’s Showtime more than doubled his earnings to $104,271. A Cal-bred maiden special weight winner two starts back, he now has two wins from four starts.
“I’m excited, this is my first stakes winner in my career,” said Velez, a 21-year-old Puerto Rican native. “I’ve been in California nine months and Craig is putting me on horses.”
Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Irish-bred Croughavouke was last after the first half mile, was forced very wide off the turn for home and rallied well to be second, a neck in front of Mind Out. Off at 7-2, Croughavouke paid $4.60 and $2.80.
The narrow second choice at 3-2, Mind Out appeared well positioned turning for home but lacked the necessary punch with Flavien Prat up and paid $2.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.97, 46.63, 1:10.64 and 1:22.82.