Never headed at any point, owner William Sims' homebred Leggs Galore sped to an emphatic 3 ¼-length win in Saturday's $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, Leggs Galore got six furlongs out of Santa Anita's new turf chute in 1:08.90 while collecting her fourth consecutive win.
Presented by John Deere, the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint is part of the CTBA's lucrative Golden State Series for eligible older fillies and mares bred or sired in California.
Breaking from post position two in a field of nine, Leggs Galore went right to the lead, enjoyed a one length advantage three furlongs from home and easily repelled a challenge mid-way around the turn from Mo See Cal to register her first stakes victory.
“I knew it was going to be hard for them to beat her,” said Gonzalez. “She was doing it so easily, and running so relaxed. She had a lot left in the tank…The trip went exactly how it was planned, and it couldn't have gone any better. She loved it.”
A 4-year-old daughter of Bayern, out of the Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, Leggs Galore had been idle since taking a first condition allowance in open company going 5 ½ furlongs on turf here Oct. 10. Ridden for the third consecutive time by Gonzalez, Leggs Galore was off as the second choice at 5-2 and paid $7.60, $4.60 and $2.80.
“She runs very well fresh and she'd been training as good as she can possibly train, so I was expecting a big performance, but that was pretty impressive today,” said D'Amato. “I think being able to steadily develop her and the turf has moved her up here…Jack Sims has been really good with that and I think that helped with the success today.”
Winless in two tries versus open maiden allowance company at Oaklawn Park in March and April, Leggs Galore is now unbeaten in four Southern California starts and is thus four for six. With today's winning purse of $90,000, she increased her earnings to $202,208.
Far back early, the second and third place finishers closed well but never threatened the winner.
Off at 7-1 with Joel Rosario, Nardini paid $6.00 and $3.60 while finishing a half length in front of Warren's Showtime.
The 6-5 favorite with Juan Hernandez, Warren's Showtime found her best stride late to be third by a head over She's Devoted and returned $2.20 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.84, 45.09 and 56.84.
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