Chismosa looks to cap off stellar meet in Generous Portion
From a debut win in a maiden special weight at 8-1 on July 22 to a victory in the CTBA Stakes at 6-1 on Aug. 7, Chismosa has offered good value in her first two starts at Del Mar this summer.
For her third appearance at the meet, in Monday’s $125,000 Generous Portion Stakes at six furlongs for California-bred 2-year-old fillies, Chismosa may once again be a decent price, although not quite as high as earlier this summer.
Trained by Rafael DeLeon for owner and breeder Jaime Renella, Chismosa drew the outside post in a field of eight in the Generous Portion. She is expected to have her typical role from off the pace, but must contend with two new rivals in Big Hopes and Uncontrollable, maiden race winners in their last starts.
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Big Hopes, trained by John Sadler for owner and breeder George Krikorian, overcame a slow start to win a maiden special weight race for California-breds at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 13 by a head. In that race, jockey Juan Hernandez guided Big Hopes from last on the turn to take the lead in the final stride.
Uncontrollable, purchased for $130,000 at a 2-year-olds in-training sale in Florida in April, was bumped at the start of her debut on July 22, but closed with a wide rally to win by two lengths under Hernandez. She is trained by Michael McCarthy.
On Monday, Hernandez is booked to ride Big Hopes. Joe Bravo has gained the mount on Uncontrollable, who was supplemented to the Generous Portion for $25,000 when entries were taken on Friday. The hefty supplemental fee makes Uncontrollable eligible to dozens of stakes in the Golden State Series for California-breds at tracks throughout the state for the duration of her career.
Big Hopes and Uncontrollable will rightfully attract support. Chismosa’s unbeaten record also commands respect. The way she finished her first two races, despite troubled starts, suggests the six-furlong distance of the Generous Portion will not be an issue.
“She’s proven to be the real thing, to have won both races without breaking well,” Renella said. “We have the outside. We can relax her and there’s no need to worry about getting in trouble out of the gate.
“Both races were almost identical. We broke slow. We threaded our way through horses. Luckily, we were able to find a hole and she opened up like a champ. The second race was very exciting to have her at such a high level.”
Chismosa was the first stakes winner for the 61-year-old DeLeon since Tizfiz won the Grade 2 San Gorgonio Handicap at Santa Anita in 2009 and a career first stakes winner for Renella, 67.
“We’re very happy,” Renella said. “It’s a dream come true. We always work toward this moment. This is the best filly I’ve ever had.”
Tranquility Lake
The Generous Portion is the second of two stakes on Monday’s 10-race program, which begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. Wagering available through DRFBets.com.
The $100,000 Tranquility Lake Stakes at a mile is restricted to fillies and mares who have not won a stakes worth $50,000 or more to the winner at a mile or more since Feb. 1.
The conditions are a good fit for Samurai Charm and Teddy’s Barino.
Samurai Charm was second in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos in July, and won the Dark Mirage Stakes at a mile there last September.
Teddy’s Barino has won three consecutive allowance races – at six furlongs on dirt, a mile on turf, and a mile on the main track – at Santa Anita and Del Mar since mid-May.
Trained by Mark Glatt, Teddy’s Barino is quick enough to lead, but also effective from a tracking position. La Castiglione, a winner of her last five starts at Turf Paradise and Arizona Downs, including two minor stakes since mid-July, is likely to be near the front.
Velvet Slippers, second in the Dark Mirage, also starts in the Tranquility Lake.