ARCADIA, Calif. – Opening up by as much as eight lengths at one point, trainer Phil D’Amato’s speedy California-bred Leggs Galore prevailed by a half-length in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita. A William Sims homebred 5-year-old mare by 2014 Breeder’s Cup Classic winner Bayern, Leggs Galore was ridden by Ricky Gonzalez and got one mile on turf in 1:34.29.
In total control throughout, Leggs Galore had a five-length edge at the top of the lane and although she was shortening stride late, held off a big finish from the actual 2-1 favorite Going to Vegas, who was ridden by Flavien Prat.
Fresh off a big 2 ¼ length score going 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf on Jan. 15, Leggs Galore was off as the second choice at 2-1 and paid $6.80, $3.80, $2.80.
In procuring her first-ever graded stakes win, Leggs Galore, who is out of Sims’ Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, notched her fifth career stakes win and improved her enviable overall mark to 13-8-1-0. With today’s winner’s share of $120,000, she increased her earnings to $560,208.
“That was a pretty ambitious move (re: Ricky Gonzalez’s move out of the gate and opening up on the field). I was holding my breath there. I was just waiting for the wire to be there. We got it done. She took another step up. This was a solid open company field. She’s a double threat now with Cal-Breds and open company. We’ll see where we go from here,” D’Amato remarked.
Idle since well beaten in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf going a mile and three eighths at Del Mar Nov. 6, Going to Vegas ran huge in defeat, finishing with her ears pinned while three quarters of a length clear of Closing Remarks.
“I thought at the eighth pole I was going to go by him, but as soon as the winner felt me, she re-engaged. I thought she ran a good race,” said Prat.
A Grade I stakes winner two starts back on Oct. 2, Going to Vegas returned $3.80 and $2.80.
Far back early, the Carla Gaines-trained Closing Remarks put in a solid late bid, finishing three quarters of a length in front of multiple graded stakes winner Mucho Unusual. Ridden by Joe Bravo, Closing Remarks was off at 4-1 and paid $3.00 to show.
Fractions on the race were 23.18, 46.70, 1:10.29 and 1:22.25.
Santa Anita Press Release
Photo of Leggs Galore by Benoit Photos
