Extra furlong main hurdle for Chismosa in Golden State Juvenile Fillies

Chismosa is unbeaten in three starts and won two sprint stakes at Del Mar, but she still has something to prove in Saturday’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies at seven furlongs for California-breds at Santa Anita.

Chismosa won the Generous Portion Stakes at six furlongs on Sept. 5 by 1 3/4 lengths after leading by six lengths in the stretch. Her diminishing advantage through the final furlong leaves questions of how she will handle Saturday’s longer race.

Trained by Rafael DeLeon for owner and breeder Jaime Renella, Chismosa was given a seven-furlong workout in 1:27.80 at Los Alamitos in September and had two workouts earlier this month.

In each of her wins, Chismosa has stalked the pace before leading in the stretch, a tactic Renella hopes will help at a longer distance.

“She should be able to handle it,” Renella said Wednesday. “She has that type of running style that she rates herself fairly well. I expect her to do the same. She’s in tip-top shape for another victory.”

The Golden State Juvenile Fillies drew a field of seven, including the last-out maiden race winners Big Celebration and Cast Member.

Big Celebration, trained by Luis Mendez, scored an eye-catching win by seven lengths in a six-furlong race for California-bred fillies on Sept. 22 at Los Alamitos in her second start. She led throughout and pulled clear in the final furlong.

This is the fourth stakes appearance for Sell the Dream, who was third to Chismosa in the CTBA Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in August and later second in two one-mile turf stakes against open company.

Golden State Juvenile

Giver Not a Taker lost an undefeated record when he finished ninth in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on turf Oct. 9 at Santa Anita. His dirt record is still 2 for 2, which makes the gelding the favorite in Saturday’s $175,000 Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs.

Trained by Peter Miller for Kirk and Judy Robison, Giver Not a Taker won his first two starts, both on dirt against California-breds at Del Mar, a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 14 and the I’m Smokin Stakes at six furlongs on Sept. 9. Giver Not a Taker closed from fourth in a field of six to win the I’m Smokin by 2 1/4 lengths.

Giver Not a Taker is the only stakes winner in a field of seven in the Golden State Juvenile.

The race will be the Southern California debut of Passarando, who has won two of his last three starts, all at Golden Gate Fields and for trainer Steve Specht. Passarando has a closing style similar to Giver Not a Taker’s.

They are likely to be in pursuit of Golf Drama, who won a maiden race for statebreds at six furlongs on Sept. 23 at Los Alamitos by four lengths.