Richi has no trouble with Santa Maria Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - Six weeks after she finished a game second in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile, Richi recorded her most prestigious stakes win in the United States with Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita.
Richi was second behind an undefeated stablemate in Cavalieri in the $300,500 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on March 8. Cavalieri was timed in 1:34.74, the fastest mile on dirt at Santa Anita since 2019.
While Cavalieri stayed in trainer Bob Baffert’s stable on Saturday, Richi cruised to an easy win by 4 1/2 lengths in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes against four overmatched rivals.
Ridden by Antonio Fresu, in his first career stakes win for Baffert, Richi led throughout the Santa Maria Stakes, pulling clear through the stretch.
“I kept it simple,” Fresu said. “I took the lead and tried to do my thing. She won very easily. I never used my whip.”
A heavy favorite, Richi ($3.20) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.60 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 102. Richi set a fair pace of 22.78 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.61 for a half-mile, leading by a half-length in the first half of the race.
Splendora, also trained by Baffert, finished second at 8-5, 12 lengths clear of 9-1 Ultimate Authority. Fayette Fox and Lisa’s Nonno completed the order of finish in the small field. Sun Of Hill was withdrawn on Saturday morning.
Richi was Baffert’s 11th stakes winner at Santa Anita this year, and his second 1-2 finish in a graded stakes this month. On April 5, Tenma and Silent Law were first and second in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks.
Splendora had her mile debut in the Santa Maria Stakes, her sixth career start and first appearance since she finished last of four in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs for fillies and mares on Feb. 1.
Splendora was third for the first five furlongs of the Santa Maria Stakes before moving into second at the end of the backstretch.
“I think she ran super good,” jockey Juan Hernandez said. “I was happy with the effort of my filly. She can go two turns. I think she’ll improve a lot in her next race.”
Richi, a 5-year-old Chilean-bred mare by Practical Joke, won for the eighth time in her 14th start. The winner’s share of $120,000 represented her richest payday.
Richi, who races for the partnership of John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Stud Vendaval, has earned $382,424. The winner of the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 4, Richi was a five-time stakes winner in Chile, including a Group 1 by 10 lengths at about 1 1/4 miles on dirt in November 2023.
While Cavalieri is a candidate for the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 2, Baffert did not state a race goal for Richi, other than saying he hopes she can develop into a prospect for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
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