leggs galore | Horse Racing Free Tips

D’Amato Leads Trainer Standings Going Into Santa Anita’s Final Weekend

Leading trainer Phil D'Amato hopes to cap the final weekend of a glorious meet with a flourish when he sends out Leggs Galore in Sunday's Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at a mile on turf at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Should the four-year-old gray daughter of 2014 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern win, it would give her four stakes victories at the meet, her only loss coming in the Mizdirection Stakes, when she experienced a troubled trip.

“She's training well, so hopefully it's all systems go for Sunday,” said D'Amato, who holds a 48-43 lead over runner-up Peter Miller in the trainers' standings, exceeding his expectations.

“I thought my stock would take a little longer to blossom,” he said, “but we struck early on and kept it rolling.

“It's basically a credit to my owners and my team. We hope to keep things going like they're going.”

Owned and bred by William Sims, Leggs Galore on May 9 won the Fran's Valentine stretching out to a mile for the first time, leading throughout against California-breds.

She has won six of her last seven starts, including a string of five straight prior to her Mizdirection mishap.

Despite being five wins behind, with eight horses entered the final two days of the meet to D'Amato's 13, Miller still holds a mathematical chance of capturing the title.

Miller has three horses entered today: 2-1 morning line favorite Texas Wedge and 5-1 chance Commander in the third race and 9-5 favorite None Above the Law in the ninth.

Sunday, Miller has five entered: 8-5 Paid Informant in the second, 4-5 Neptune's Storm in the seventh, 5-2 Laurel Canyon in the eighth, 12-1 Querelle in the ninth, and 3-1 Gypsy Blu in the 11th and final race.

D'Amato has eight entered today: Lips Like Sugar, 30-1 in the first; Tilted Towers, 8-1 in the third; Hollywoodhellraiser, 15-1 in the fifth; Ready Soul, 6-1 in the seventh; Palace Coup, 5-1 in the eighth; Cargo, 8-1 in the ninth; and Red King, 5-2, and Acclimate, 9-5, in the 11th.

D'Amato has five entered Sunday: Burgo Alley, 5-2 in the first; On Mars, 2-1 and Beguiled, 5-1, in the second; Leggs Galore, 3-1, in the sixth; and Big Clare, 5-1, in the 11th.

Stay tuned.

The Wilshire, race nine of 11 with a 1 p.m. first post time: Quiet Secretary, Jessica Pyfer, 8-1; Brooke, Umberto Rispoli, 5-1; Gidgetta, Mario Gutierrez,6-1; Querelle, Trevor McCarthy, 12-1; Warren's Showtime, Juan Hernandez, 5-2; Leggs Galore, Ricardo Gonzalez, 3-1; Stela Star, Flavien Prat, 4-1; and Ippodemia's Girl, Joe Bravo, 12-1.

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Warren’s Showtime Rates Big Chance In Sunday’s Wilshire

In a race laden with early speed, the Craig Lewis-trained Warren's Showtime rates a huge chance to get up in time going a flat mile on turf in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Wilshire Stakes at Santa Anita. For fillies and mares three and up, the Wilshire has attracted a solid field of eight distaffers, the majority of whom appear to be in top form.

Among the speed contingent, Phil D'Amato's Leggs Galore will try to once again pose an elusive target on the lead, while John Sadler's comebacking Stella's Star is a dedicated deep closer who will get the services of leading rider Flavien Prat.

Owned and bred in California by Ben and Sally Warren, Warren's Showtime is winless in five starts at the current meet, dating back to a close third going a mile on turf in the opening day Lady of Shamrock on Dec. 26. Favored in three out of her five outs, Warren's Showtime ran one of her best races in finishing second, beaten three quarters of a length by Leggs Galore as the 3-5 favorite in the one mile turf Fran's Valentine Stakes on May 9.

With an abundance of speed signed up for the Wilshire, Warren's Showtime could get the assist she needs to turn the tables on Leggs Galore and notch her second graded stakes win. By Clubhouse Ride out of the Grade 1 stakes winning Affirmative mare Warren's Veneda, Warren's Showtime has been a gem of consistency, posting an overall mark of 19-6-2-9, with earnings of $637,431.

A winner of five consecutive turf sprints prior to tasting defeat at 6-5 in the one mile turf Mizdirection Stakes two starts back on April 17, Leggs Galore bounced back with a tremendous effort in the Fran's Valentine as she held a two length advantage virtually throughout en route to posting a career-best 96 Beyer Speed figure as she held Warren's Showtime safe by three quarters of a length.

A 4-year-old California-bred filly by Bayern that is owned by her breeder William Sims, Leggs Galore will no doubt be intent upon replicating her Fran's Valentine score under regular rider Ricky Gonzalez. A three-time stakes winner, Leggs Galore, who is out of the Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, has six wins from nine starts and will be facing graded stakes competition for the first time.

Idle since May of 2020, Irish-bred Stela Star closed much ground to be second, beaten a half length by Warren's Showtime in her U.S. debut, the one mile turf China Doll Stakes, two starts back on March 7, 2020. Subsequently off as the 9-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes May 30, 2019, Stela Star was 14 lengths off the lead after the first half mile and flew to be second, beaten a neck by multiple stakes winner Laura's Light.

Owned by Hronis Racing, Inc., Stela Star, a 4-year-old filly, was a Group 3 winner in Ireland and no doubt has a huge future in front of her. With Prat engaged, she may be able to overcome the layoff and improve upon her overall mark of 6-2-2-0.

THE GRADE 3 WILSHIRE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 11 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT

Quiet Secretary—Jessica Pyfer—122
Brooke—Umberto Rispoli—122
Gidgetta—Mario Gutierrez—122
Querelle—Trevor McCarthy—122
Warren's Showtime—Juan Hernandez—124
Leggs Galore—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
Stela Star—Flavien Prat—122
Ippodamia's Girl—Joe Bravo—122

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Leggs Galore Outfoots Fran’s Valentine Rivals At Santa Anita

In her first two turn assignment, William Sims' homebred Leggs Galore went to the lead and never looked back, taking Sunday's $100,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., by three quarters of a length over heavily favored Warren's Showtime. Trained by Phil D'Amato and ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, Leggs Galore got one mile on turf in 1:34.85.

With a pair of scratches earlier in the day, the Fran's Valentine was reduced to a field of four older California-bred fillies and mares. To the surprise of no one, Leggs Galore bounced out of the gate from her rail post and turned the race into a virtual parade to the far turn, with Kristi's Tiger a length and a half off the lead three furlongs out and Warren's Showtime another half length back.

With the chestnut Warren's Showtime in high gear mid-way around the turn, she had the leader well within her sights while two lengths back turning for home, but Leggs Galore never backed up and in fact maintained her advantage on the gallop out around the Club House turn.

“The main thing with her is trying to get her to relax, get a breather down the backside,” said Gonzalez, who has now ridden the 4-year-old daughter of Bayern in her last six starts, winning five of them. “I knew that if she got it, that little breather, that she would be just fine because her speed is her main weapon and she proved that today.”

A well beaten sixth as the 6-5 favorite in the six furlong turf Mizdirection Stakes versus open company here on April 17, Leggs Galore was the second choice today at 2-1 and she paid $6.00 and $2.60 with no show wagering.

“It opens the big door, to where we have two options and just kind of pick the right spot that suits her best,” D'Amato said, when asked by TVG's Britney Eurton about winning around two turns. “There's a nice little Grade 3 at the end of the meet and I might try her in there,” said D'Amato. “I think it's the Wilshire ($100,000, at one mile on turf June 20). When I saw 23, I was thinking 22 and change, 23 if we are lucky, and when I saw that, I thought we had no excuses and we'll see what she's made of. Ricky did a beautiful job.”

Out of Sims' Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, Leggs Galore now has three stakes wins and six victories from nine overall starts. With today's winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $322,708.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, consistent Warren's Showtime was perhaps done in by the short field as much as anything else, as she attended the pace, but was unable to threaten the winner despite mounting a solid stretch rally.

Off at 3-5, Warren's Showtime paid $2.10 to place while finishing 3 ½ lengths clear of Pulpit Rider.

Fractions on the race were 23.00, 46.77, 1:10.96 and 1:22.93.

The Fran's Valentine, named for the multiple Grade 1 stakes winning Earl Scheib homebred daughter of Saros, is part of the lucrative Golden State Series. Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

Live racing resumes on Friday, with first post time for an eight-race card at 1 p.m. Fans are advised that admission gates will open at 7 a.m. for Preakness Day simulcasting on Saturday, with Infield Admission gates opening at 9 a.m.

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Shades Of Enola Gray: Leggs Galore Speeds To Irish O’Brien Victory

William Sims' homebred Leggs Galore was long gone in Sunday's $100,000 Irish O'Brien Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as she waltzed to a 2 ¼-length win, which was her fifth consecutive triumph dating back to Aug. 7. Trained by Phil D'Amato and ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, Leggs Galore, a 4-year-old California-bred filly by 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern, got six furlongs over a firm turf in 1:08.17.

Breaking like a rocket from her outside post position, Leggs Galore opened up a four- length cushion after the first quarter mile and it was readily apparent no one was capable of pressuring her, thus assuring the brilliantly fast grey her second consecutive stakes win over the course in what may've been her best effort to date.

“This race, she really started to remind me of Enola Gray (a California-bred gray that was a multiple stakes winner on turf and a winner of the 2017 Irish O'Brien) the way she won today,” said D'Amato, who notched his meet-leading 10th stakes victory. “I gave Ricky the option. I just told him to play the break, if they wanted to come get her she could rate, she's done it before, but I mean she broke like a rocket and there was no looking back.”

A handy winner of the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint on Jan. 16, Leggs Galore was off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of seven older fillies and mares bred or sired in California and she paid $4.60, $2.60 and $2.20.

“She's just so special, she's so fast and talented,” said Gonzalez, who has now ridden her to four consecutive wins. “Phil said she's rated before, so I had options but the way she broke there was only one way, just keep going. She was so relaxed, she was looking around, her ears were pricked, just having fun out there. I was just a happy passenger.”

Out of the Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, Leggs Galore is now unbeaten in five turf starts from seven overall races. With today's winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $262,208.

In what amounted to a separate race, Bella Vita, who was third around the turn, drove up the rail in a solid effort for second money, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Sadie Bluegrass. The second choice at 8-5 with Flavien Prat, Bella Vita paid $2.60 and $2.20.

A non-threatening second into and around the turn, Sadie Bluegrass held third by a head over Nardini. Based at Golden Gate Fields, Sadie Bluegrass was ridden by Brayan Pena and paid $3.40 to show while off at 5-1.

The Irish O'Brien gave Gonzalez a riding double and D'Amato picked up his 21st overall win, putting him third in the standings, one behind Bob Baffert and Peter Miller.

Fractions on the race were 21.94, 44.37 and 56.08.

The Irish O'Brien is part of the lucrative Golden State Series. Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

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