Golden State Series: Fran’s Valentine Stakes

© BENOIT PHOTO

Jack Sims’ homebred Leggs Galore takes the Fran’s Valentine over favored Warren’s Showtime

A GRAND DAY

LEGGS GALORE KICKS AWAY TO WIN FRAN’S VALENTINE

BY TRACY GANTZ

William “Jack” Sims knows his California-bred flly Leggs Galore well because he raised her at his home in Evanston, Wyo. However, due to the pandemic, he never had a chance to see her race in person until the $98,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes May 9 at Santa Anita. Leggs Galore put on a show, leading throughout to win her third stakes of 2021.

“I hadn’t seen her in over a year,” said Sims. “I had a grand day at the races. I appreciated getting to go to the races.”

Even though Leggs Galore earlier this year had captured the $152,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes Presented by John Deere and the $101,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes, she didn’t go favored. In a feld of four after the scratches of Bella Vita and Lofty, bettors made Warren’s Showtime the 7-10 favorite, with Leggs Galore the second choice at 2-1.

“Tat Warren’s Showtime is a very nice horse, so we were really tickled,” said Sims.

Leggs Galore had not yet competed in a graded race whereas Warren’s Showtime had won the $101,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) last October at the same one-mile turf distance at Santa Anita. Warren’s Showtime was also voted champion Cal-bred 3-yearold female of 2020.

Lofty often set the pace in her races, and because she was scratched out of the Fran’s Valentine, Leggs Galore was able to forge to the front early. Jockey Ricardo Gonazlez let her post early fractions of :23 and :46.77.

“When I saw the splits, I thought they’re going to have (difculty) catching us,” said Sims.

In fact, none of the three could catch Leggs Galore, though Warren’s Showtime valiantly tried to close in the stretch. Leggs Galore held her of to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:34.85. Pulpit Rider fnished third.

“Te main thing with her is trying to get her to relax, get a breather down the backside,” said Gonzalez. “I knew that if she got it—that little breather— that she would be just fne because her speed is her main weapon.”

Sims praised trainer Phil D’Amato.

“Phil’s a genuine good guy,” Sims said. “Phil’s very easy to deal with. He’s a humble person and gives credit for the people who work for him. And they deserve that. Phil’s a hard worker.”

Sims had horses in training with the late Mike Mitchell. D’Amato worked as Mitchell’s assistant, which is how Sims initially met D’Amato.

D’Amato said that the Fran’s Valentine victory “opens the big door to where we have two options and just kind of pick the right spot that suits her best.” While all three of her stakes victories have come on the turf, this was the frst one around two turns.

Sims purchased the Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, the dam of Leggs Galore, for $55,000 in the name of McKenzie Bloodstock at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. Cashing Tickets was in foal to Bayern at the time of the sale, and she foaled Leggs Galore in California the following March. Sims bred the mare back to his stallion Stormberg, who stood at NexStar Farm.

Cashing Tickets has a yearling flly by Into Mischief that Sims plans to ofer for sale at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale. Te mare produced a flly by Good Magic this year and has been bred back to Instagrand, a son of Into Mischief who won the 2018 Best Pal Stakes (G2) at Del Mar.