Warren’s Showtime Best In California Distaff At Santa Anita

Classy Warren's Showtime overcame a pedestrian pace and rallied from last to take Saturday's $100,000 California Distaff Handicap for owner/breeders Ben and Sally Warren and trainer Craig Lewis at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. An ultra-consistent chestnut filly by top sire Clubhouse Ride, Warren's Showtime, in her first try down the track's hillside turf course, went about 6 ½ furlongs under Juan Hernandez in 1:13.76.

Last after the first half mile but only about four lengths off the lead, Warren's Showtime, who was shortening up out of five consecutive turf miles, loomed ominously as the field made the dirt crossing at the top of the lane and sliced her way through traffic in what was to become her seventh career stakes victory.

“I wasn't confident when I saw the first quarter, but I could see Juan was confident, so that gave me some hope,” said Lewis, who also conditioned millionaire Clubhouse Ride and Warren's Showtime's Grade I winning dam, Warren's Veneda. “(It) made me think maybe. Once she got into gear, I knew she'd get there…Another Clubhouse Ride, they just run.”

Overlayed at 2-1 off of her morning line of 9-5 in a field of six fillies and mares, Warren's Showtime paid $6.80, $3.80, and $2.80.

With the Distaff winner's share of $60,000, Warren's Showtime boosted her earnings to $775,431 from an overall mark of 22-8-2-10.

“I knew the pace wasn't that fast, but she was in the bridle and pulling,” said Hernandez, who has been aboard for her last nine races. “That's the way she likes to run and she came with a big run today. She's a nice filly, very consistent.”

The Warrens, who came in from their Las Vegas base to watch today's Distaff, were understandably elated with their homebred star.

“It's just been unbelievable and (Ben) has had so many horses, but not one that has been so consistent as 'Showtime,'” said Sally Warren. “We were just saying, 19 out of 21 starts and she's hit the board and that's unbelievable…We are really, really thankful. Craig picked her out at the farm, now we know (why).”

Although it was expected that speedy Anna Fantastic would make the early lead, most observers felt she'd be pressed by eventual favorite Bella Vita through quick early splits, but with Bella Vita taking a more conservative approach, moderate hillside fractions of :22.90, :45.99, and 1:08.14 resulted and it was Sedamar, who was second to the dirt crossing, who prevailed for the place by a half-length over Anna Fantastic.

Ridden by Joe Bravo, Sedamar was off at 7-1 and paid $6.60 and $4.40.

Anna Fantastic, off at 4-1 with Edwin Maldonado up, paid $3.60 to show while finishing 2 ¼ lengths clear of even-money favorite Bella Vita.

The California Distaff Handicap is part of the lucrative CTBA sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired fillies and mares three and up.

The Distaff marked win number two on the day with two races remaining for Hernandez, giving him 10 for the meet—five back of Flavien Prat, who has 15 wins through nine racing days.

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m.

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Brickyard Ride Cruises To Thor’s Echo Score At Santa Anita

Absent a suicidal pace duel, the Craig Lewis-trained Brickyard Ride settled into a rhythmic stride out of the gate and coasted gate to wire in Saturday's $100,000 Thor's Echo Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., winning by 4 ¾ lengths.  Ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez, Brickyard Ride got six furlongs in 1:09.34.

Winless in two starts since taking the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 6, Brickyard Ride was pressed through opening quarter miles of 21.40 and 21 flat in his last two starts—resulting in a fourth-place finish in a six-furlong classified allowance May 7 and a second-place finish in the G3 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on April 18.

With an opening quarter mile of 22.62, Brickyard Ride was in complete control of the Thor's Echo, and although Colt Fiction appeared full of run while two lengths back turning for home, Brickyard Ride was never challenged through the lane.

“Craig told me a clean break with him was the key today,” said Hernandez.  “I never bothered him, he felt comfortable the whole way.  It felt like he ran faster when I worked him the other day (a bullet five furlongs in 58 flat on June 4) than he ran today.  I looked at three or four replays of his races and it looked like today, he relaxed better.”

Owned and bred in California by Alfred Pais, Brickyard Ride was off as the 8-5 favorite and returned $5.20, $3.60 and $2.60.

“I don't like to make excuses for my horses but, he was pretty much eliminated last time,” said Lewis.  “He hit the gate and then he ducked in real bad, he just lost his best attribute, which is speed.  I just felt like he trained well and we know he's a brilliant horse when he's right…Juan knew he had a lot of horse under him.

“We're probably going to point for the Bing Crosby (G1, six furlongs at Del Mar July 31), possibly.  We could stretch him out in a Cal-bred stake.  He's a lovely moving horse, big horse with a wonderful stride, very athletic and has plenty of speed…We don't know if he can could do it (be effective routing) but we know this, he will be in front.”

A striking looking 4-year-old chestnut colt by Clubhouse Ride out of the Southern Image mare Brickyard Helen, Brickyard Ride notched his third stakes victory and he now has six wins from nine Santa Anita starts.  With an overall mark of 16-8-1-2, the winner's share of $60,000 increased his earnings to $464,477.

Ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, the Bill Spawr-conditioned Colt Fiction saved every inch of ground from his rail post and although he accelerated when called upon was no match for the winner, finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of Fashionably Fast.

The second choice at 5-2, Colt Fiction paid $3.20 and $2.20.

Fashionably Fast, who was off at 7-2 with Tiago Periera, paid $2.60 to show while finishing 2 ¾ lengths in front of Loud Mouth.

Fractions on the race were 22.62, 45.16 and 56.99.

Sponsored by the CTBA, the Thor's Echo is part of the lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

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