Consistent Warren’s Showtime Returns In Wilshire

ARCADIA, CA – 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 $100,000 Wilshire Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita.

For fillies and mares 3 and up, the Wilshire attracted a solid field of eight distaffers, the majority of whom appear to be in top form.

Owned and bred in California by Ben and Sally Warren, Warren’s Showtime is winless in 5 starts at the current meet, dating back to a close third going a mile on turf in the opening day Lady of Shamrock on December 26Favored in 3 out of her 5 outs, Warren’s Showtime ran one of her best races in finishing second, beaten 3/4 of a length as the 3/5 favorite in the 1-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 and notch her second graded stakes win. By Clubhouse Ride out of the Grade 1-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.

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 Stela Star is a dedicated deep closer who will get the services of leading rider Flavien Prat.

A winner of 5 consecutive turf sprints prior to tasting defeat at 6/5 in the 1-mile turf Mizdirection Stakes 2 starts back on April 17, Leggs Galore bounced back with a tremendous effort in the Fran’s Valentine as she held a 2-length advantage virtually throughout en route to posting a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure.

A 4-year-old California-bred filly by Bayern 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 3-time stakes winner, Leggs Galore, who is out of the Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, has 6 wins from 9 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 1/2-length by Warren’s Showtime in her U.S. debut, the 1-mile turf China Doll Stakes, 2 starts back on March 7, 2020. Subsequently off as the 9/5 favorite in the Honeymoon Stakes (G3) May 30, 2019, Stela Star was 14 lengths off the lead after the first 1/2-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 III WILSHIRE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

1. Quiet Secretary—Jessica Pyfer—122
2. Brooke—Umberto Rispoli—122
3. Gidgetta—Mario Gutierrez—122
4. Querelle—Trevor McCarthy—122
5. Warren’s Showtime—Juan Hernandez—124
6. Leggs Galore—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
7. Stela Star—Flavien Prat—122
8. Ippodamia’s Girl—Joe Bravo—122