True to her name, Ganadora tries to double up in Dark Mirage Stakes

Translated from Spanish to English, the word “ganadora” means “winner.” Capitalized, it means the same at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Horse-for-course filly Ganadora seeks her second Los Alamitos stakes victory Saturday in the Dark Mirage, a mile race she won by eight lengths last year. Since then, little has changed. Ganadora remains stuck on three wins. After Saturday, her career win total should be quatro.

Ganadora is the presumptive favorite in the Dark Mirage, the final stakes of the Los Alamitos September meet that ends Sunday. Seven fillies and mares were entered in the Dark Mirage, which would be worth $125,000 with six or more starters. With fewer than six, the purse will drop to $75,000.

Rivals for Ganadora include recent allowance winner Trouville, a 6-year-old who finished third last year in the Dark Mirage; California-bred 3-year-old stakes winner Chismosa; and likely pacesetter Yuki. Others entered include Angel Nadeshiko, Gila, and Smoothlikebuttah.

Bob Baffert trains Ganadora for owners Susan and Charles Chu; Ramon Vazquez rides. Third last out in her comeback in a Grade 2 on turf, Ganadora has worked fast since, relishes Los Alamitos dirt, and employs a versatile style that should lead to a pressing trip outside Yuki. A 4-year-old by Quality Road, Ganadora has won 3 of 9.

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While hopes were always high for $1 million yearling Ganadora, other Dark Mirage starters exceeded expectations. Trouville, a $15,000 yearling, has earned $282,737. Chismosa, a homebred from a mare claimed for $20,000, is a two-time stakes winner who has earned $289,750.

Leonard Powell trains Trouville, a 4-for-37 veteran who has finished second or third a combined 21 times. It’s a frustrating record for bettors, but no complaints from Powell.

“It’s always nice to have a horse that’s going to bring a check home, especially when your wife is the owner,” Powell said.

Mathilde Powell is Trouville’s majority owner, along with Mark Banuelos. Trouville, a last-out allowance winner at Del Mar, has placed in 8 of 9 starts at Los Alamitos, including two wins.

Antonio Fresu rides stakes-placed Trouville, a 6-year-old by Will Take Charge produced by a sibling to Grade 1 winner Octave and Grade 2 winner Belle Cherie. Plans call for Trouville to be sold as a broodmare at the conclusion of her 2023 campaign.

Chismosa is a temperamental 3-for-8 stakes winner trained by Rafael DeLeon and owned by her breeder. Jaime Renella claimed the filly’s dam, You Can Dream, for $20,000 in 2010, won six races, and kept her as a broodmare. Her best foal is Chismosa, by Clubhouse Ride.

A return to Los Alamitos benefits Chismosa, who is stabled at Los Alamitos and whose best race was a Grade 2 runner-up sprint finish on the track in summer.

“Right here is home,” De Leon said referring to Los Alamitos. “Her best race was here.”

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Last out, Chismosa had trouble and finished last in the Grade 3, $750,000 Charles Town Oaks. Edgar Payeras rides Chismosa, who is unproven around two turns.

De Leon believes she can stay the mile trip based on how she finished in the summer sprint stakes.

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