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Warren’s Showtime Wins Autumn Miss
Ben and Sally Warren’s Cal-homebred Warren’s Showtime stars in the Autumn Miss Stakes
© BENOIT PHOTO
TIME FOR 1,000
WARREN’S SHOWTIME WINS FIRST GRADED STAKES IN AUTUMN MISS
BY TRACY GANTZ
Everything aligned perfectly in the $101,000 Autumn Miss Stakes for Warren’s Showtime. Te gutsy California-bred flly scored in her frst graded stakes for owners Ben and Sally Warren Oct. 17 at Santa Anita while giving her trainer, Craig Lewis, his 1,000th career victory.
Lewis couldn’t have hit the milestone with a more appropriate horse. He picked out her sire, Clubhouse Ride, and her dam, Warren’s Veneda, as good prospects and won multiple graded races with both. Clubhouse Ride earned more than $1 million and now stands in California at Pete and Evelyn Parrella’s Legacy Ranch. Warren’s Veneda is a Warren homebred, earned $932,112, and was the Cal-bred champion older female in 2015.
“Te best thing was that Craig got his 1,000th win and it happened to be for us,” said Sally Warren.
Sally Warren has been friends with Lewis and his family for decades. She recalls talking him into going to the 2010 Barretts January sale when he had a bad cold. Reluctantly, Lewis agreed, and that was where he selected Clubhouse Ride as a young 2-year-old. For Six-S Racing Stable and Nikolas Petralia, Clubhouse Ride won back-to-back Californian Stakes (G2) and is siring winners, many trained by Lewis.
After Sally and Ben were married nine years ago, Lewis visited Ben’s farm in Hemet. Ben told him to pick out a horse or two to train from his feld of yearlings, and Sally says that Lewis selected Warren’s Veneda. Under Lewis’ tutelage, the flly won the 2015 Santa Margarita Stakes (G1) and four other stakes.
Ben Warren bred Warren’s Veneda to Clubhouse Ride, and Lewis is doing just as well with Warren’s Showtime. At 2 last year the flly won the Surfer Girl Stakes, and this year she won the California Cup Oaks, China Doll Stakes, and Melair Stakes and placed in two graded events prior to the Autumn Miss at a mile on the turf.
Sent away as the 7-10 favorite under Flavien Prat, Warren’s Showtime raced in ffth early. She moved up on the outside in the second turn but still had some work to do in the stretch. Flying late, Warren’s Showtime put her neck in front right at the wire, defeating Going to Vegas in 1:33.77.
Te Warrens traveled from their home in Las Vegas to see the race.
“It was so exciting,” said Sally. “I didn’t think she was going to get up in time. Te jockey even said he didn’t know if he’d get up in time, but when he asked her to go, she went.”
Lewis admitted that he wasn’t sure Warren’s Showtime would make up all that ground either.
“But as usual she did not disappoint,” the trainer said. “She’s really a genuine flly—gives it every time.”
Tough the Warrens try to travel to all of Warren’s Showtime’s races, they have also watched her on TVG.
“Tey’ve been so kind to us about her,” said Sally. “I think that people like her name, and we’ve got a real good following with her. We appreciate all of their enthusiasm with her.”
Ben noted that Warren’s Veneda is back in foal to Clubhouse Ride, adding “that’s really something to look forward to.”
Lewis thanked the Warrens and other owners who have helped him reach 1,000 victories.
“A trainer’s life is not all pie and ice cream,” Lewis said. “But when things like this happen, it makes it all worthwhile.”
