Golden State Series: Melair Stakes

© BENOIT PHOTO

Ben and Sally Warren’s Cal-homebred Warren’s Showtime stars in Melair Stakes at Santa Anita

IT’S SHOWTIME

WARREN’S SHOWTIME IS LEADING LADY IN MELAIR

BY TRACY GANTZ

Clubhouse Ride keeps fnding ways to reward Craig Lewis. Clubhouse Ride initially developed into a millionaire multiple graded stakes winner for the trainer, and these days he keeps siring winners, many of them fnding their way to Lewis’ shedrow.

Te star is Warren’s Showtime, who most recently scored yet again, this time in the $150,000 Melair Stakes at Santa Anita June 21. She is a 3-year-old California-bred daughter of Clubhouse Ride out of Warren’s Veneda, another graduate of the Lewis training program. Bred and owned by Benjamin Warren, Warren’s Veneda won such races as the 2015 Santa Margarita Stakes (G1), earned $932,112, and was voted champion Cal-bred older female of 2015.

Tough Warren’s Showtime hasn’t yet reached the same heights as her illustrious parents, she is gamely working on it. She races for Warren and his wife, Sally, and has given them many reasons to cheer, which both owners do enthusiastically.

At 2 last year, Warren’s Showtime captured the $100,351 Surfer Girl Stakes against open company. Earlier this year she put together back-to-back stakes victories, in the $202,000 California Cup Oaks Jan. 18 and the $106,000 China Doll Stakes, a listed stakes, March 7.

All three of those came on the turf. Warren’s Showtime had run third twice and fourth once in her only three dirt attempts. Te Melair, at 1 1 ⁄16 miles on the dirt, was also the farthest Warren’s Showtime had ever attempted.

Jorge Velez has ridden Warren’s Showtime in each of her 10 lifetime starts. He noted after the Melair that her post position, post 6 in the six-horse feld, “was better than the last two times she was on the dirt.” In larger felds Warren’s Showtime broke from post 9 in the Evening Jewel Stakes and post 4 in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes.

Warren’s Showtime went of as the 4-1 third choice in the Melair. Big Sweep, winner of the Echo Eddie Stakes against males, was the 9-10 favorite.

Lewis noted that Warren’s Showtime had to race wide around both turns. Nevertheless, she grabbed the lead in the upper stretch and was prepared for a showdown with Smiling Shirlee, winner of the Evening Jewel.

Neither flly gave up. Smiling Shirlee poked her head in front between calls, but Warren’s Showtime surged back to win by a length in 1:44.29. Smiling Shirlee fnished 3 1 ⁄4 lengths ahead of third-place Big Sweep.

“How sweet it is—she was much the best today,” said Lewis. “She was forced wide into the frst turn and lost ground turning for home. I just talked to Ben up in Vegas and he’s elated.”

Warren’s Showtime was winning her ffth race in 10 starts, with three thirds. She raised her earnings to $412,251.

Lewis reported that Warren’s Veneda is back in foal to Clubhouse Ride and has a yearling flly and a 2-year-old gelding, Warrens Candy Man, by the stallion. Clubhouse Ride stands at Pete and Evelyn Parrella’s Legacy Ranch in Clements.

“Tis stud has been absolutely amazing,” said Lewis. “Tese foals are sound, versatile, and they can really run. He was bred to 100 mares this year, so we feel really good about that.”