ARCADIA, Calif. – The South American Group 1 winner Richi is thriving in the United States and part of an extensive team of older fillies and mares trained by Bob Baffert. Richi was a game second to stablemate Cavalieri in a fast running of the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 8 at Santa Anita and won the most prestigious race of her American career in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles at the same venue. Richi led throughout the $200,000 Santa Maria and won by 4 1/2 lengths over stablemate Splendora. The win left Baffert hopeful that Richi can develop into a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. :: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports available now. “She’s improved a lot,” Baffert said in the winner’s circle. “She likes two turns and she likes California. Hopefully, we can get to the Breeders’ Cup.” Richi has won 8 of 14 starts in her career, which began in Chile in late 2022. She has won 2 of 5 starts in the United States since June. In Chile, Richi was a four-time group stakes winner, including a Group 1 at about 1 1/4 miles in November 2023. Richi finished second to Chismosa in the Desert Stormer Stakes at six furlongs last June in her American debut, but did not race again until January when she won the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at six furlongs. Richi was a well-beaten third in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes four weeks later. Since then, Richi has improved rapidly, losing the Beholder Mile by three-quarters of a length. “She changed a lot and she’s getting better and better,” Baffert said. “Those South American mares, when they get good, they’re tough.” Cavalieri, who has not raced since the Beholder, is nominated to the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes, a $1 million race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on May 2 at Churchill Downs. Baffert was optimistic that Splendora can become a stakes winner after her second in the Santa Maria. In December, Splendora was second at 25-1 in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. The Santa Maria Stakes was Splendora’s first start at 1 1/16 miles. “It was her first time going two turns,” Baffert said. “She needed that and she’ll get better.” Baffert’s group of older fillies and mares includes Hope Road, winner of two Grade 3 stakes last summer and fall who has not raced since a second in the Santa Monica Stakes. Hope Road worked seven furlongs in a quick 1:24 from the gate at Santa Anita on Sunday. A winner of 4 of 9 starts, Hope Road is nominated to the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff, a $1 million race for fillies and mares at seven furlongs on May 3 at Churchill Downs. The stable did suffered a tragic setback on April 17 when the 3-year-old filly Non Compliant was euthanized after suffering an injury during training at Los Alamitos, according to California Horse Racing Board records. Non Compliant was unbeaten in two starts last year, including the Grade 2 Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. She was pre-entered in the BC Juvenile Fillies but was scratched in the days before the race. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.