Golden State Series—California Distaf Handicap
© BENOIT PHOTOS
Showtime has been writing her own legacy since her 2019 debut. Te Benjamin and Sally Warren homebred, who is trained by Craig Lewis, won the $100,351 Surfer Girl Stakes against open company as a juvenile, then added the $202,000 California Cup Oaks and the $106,000 China Doll Stakes early in her sophomore season. A win in the $150,500 Melair Stakes on the main track sent Warren’s Showtime into graded company; she fnished third in both the San Clemente Stakes (G2T) and the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) before winning her frst graded event, the $101,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T). Warren’s Showtime was slow to fnd the winner’s circle in 2021, running second or third in four straight races before taking the $101,500 Wilshire Stakes (G3T) in June. She fnished third in the Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar despite being favored but rebounded efortlessly Ben and Sally Warren’s Warren’s Showtime stars in the California Distaff Stakes at Santa Anita in the California Distaf. Te Warrens traveled from Las Vegas to Santa Anita for the race. Te win was so thrilling Sally Warren compared the mare’s consistency to that of the great Zenyatta. “(Ben) has had so many horses, but not one that has been so consistent as ShowDistaf, Warren’s Showtime and jockey time,” Sally said. “We were just saying, THE ‘SHOW’ GOES Juan Hernandez dropped back to last in 19 out of 21 starts she’s hit the board and ON IN CALIFORNIA the six-horse feld. Tey tracked the other that’s unbelievable. It makes me think of runners down Santa Anita Park’s hillside Zenyatta, only in a diferent way—we hit DISTAFF STAKES turf course, with Anna Fantastic setting the board, she won. But we are so happy.” BY EMILY SHIELDS the pace and Sedamar chasing. Sweeping Trainer Lewis agreed about the flly’s down the lane, Warren’s Showtime split reliability, saying, “Te number one ooking for a model of consisten- rivals and rallied, getting up on the line trait she has that separates her from cy? Look no further than War- by three-quarters of a length. Sedamar most horses is her consistency. She’s a ren’s Showtime, who added the fnished second, Anna Fantastic third, big, beautiful flly. She can run on any surface and any distance.” $100,500 California Distaf Handi- and favored Bella Vita ran fourth. Te fnal time of 1:13.76 for the disLewis trained her dam, grade 1 winner cap to her already impressive resume. tance of about 6 1⁄2 furlongs was well of Warren’s Veneda. A durable sort with 29 Te California-bred daughter of Club- the 1:10.73 track record, but Warren’s starts and earnings of $932,112, Warren’s house Ride—Warren’s VeneVeneda went on to become da, by Afrmative, has only 2020 California Broodmare of been worse than third twice the Year, joining Variety Queen in 22 starts, and not since as the only other Cal-bred May 2020. With a record of racing champion to add the eight wins, two seconds, and broodmare title. Warren’s Ve10 thirds, Warren’s Showtime neda is the dam of two winners has courageously been addfrom three foals to race, including to her earnings—now ing a juvenile full sister to War$775,431—while competing ren’s Showtime named Warren’s anywhere from graded comShowgirl, who was seventh in Owners Ben and Sally Warren, center left and right, join trainer Craig pany to Cal-bred events. maiden company on the CaliIn the Oct. 16 California Lewis, right, to celebrate Warren’s Showtime’s Distaff victory fornia Distaf undercard.
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CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED ❙ November 2021 ❙ www.ctba.com
