Chismosa catches Richi late, wins Desert Stormer

ARCADIA, Calif. - Chismosa, the pride of trainer Rafeal DeLeon’s four-horse stable, rallied from off the pace to catch the well-regarded South American import Richi in the final furlong and win her fourth stakes in Sunday’s $100,500 Desert Stormer at Santa Anita.

Chismosa, ridden by Tiago Pereira, ran six furlongs in 1:09.70 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

Chismosa has raced from a stalking position and from well of the pace in her career. Pereira hoped to be just behind the leaders in the first half of Sunday’s race. The plan was altered when Chismosa failed to keep pace and trailed pacesetter Tom’s Regret by six lengths on the backstretch.

“I wanted to be closer, but it was too fast,” Pereira said. “It was good for me. She finished really fast.”

Tom’s Regret set an early pace of 22.17 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.39 for a half-mile.

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Chismosa was fifth in the field of six fillies and mares on the backstretch. Pereira moved her to the outside on the turn and steadily made progress. Chismosa was third with a furlong remaining and caught stretch leader Richi late.

The third choice, Chismosa paid $8.60.

Richi, a two-time Group 1 winner in 2023 in races at 7 1/2 furlongs and 1 1/4 miles on dirt in Chile, was always near the front under jockey Juan Hernandez. Trained by Bob Baffert, Richi was within a head of Tom’s Regret before taking the lead in early stretch. The Desert Stormer was Richi’s first start since December.

“She needed the race,” Hernandez said. “She was aggressive. It took a lot out of here. We went too quick."

Chismosa “had a good trip.”

Tom’s Regret held third, followed by Anywho, Outside the Law and Deelitefull Hart.

Anywho was the 6-5 favorite on the basis of an eight-length win in her 2024 debut in an allowance race at six furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 17. On Sunday, Anywho was between Tom’s Regret and Richi on the backstretch and faded from contention on the turn.

Chismosa, a 4-year-old California-bred filly by Clubhouse Ride, races for owner and breeder Jaime Renella. The Desert Stormer was Chismosa’s first start since a win in the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 1.

A winner of 5 of 18 starts, Chismosa was beaten in five subsequent starts in sprints on turf and dirt, including a third in the Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course on May 19.

Chismosa has earned $501,750.

Last summer, Chismosa was second by a neck in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares at Los Alamitos at 19-1, rallying from sixth in a field of nine.

The same $200,000 race on July 6 is on Chismosa’s schedule this summer, DeLeon said in the winner’s circle. DeLeon is based at Los Alamitos.

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