ARCADIA — Out from the shadow of a sensational stablemate, Richi romped in the bright sunshine on a perfect spring day at Santa Anita on Saturday, running away with the Santa Maria Stakes as jockey Antonio Fresu barely had to urge her on.
Last time out, Richi had run well but couldn’t quite hold off Cavalieri in the Beholder Mile.
If any of that suggests Richi won this time only because she didn’t have to face Cavalieri, let’s be clear. The 5-year-old mare from Chile is getting better with every start here, and could have been even tougher competition for Cavalieri if the latter had run in the Santa Maria.
“I really think that she (Richi) is getting acclimated now to the United States,” said Bob Baffert, who trains Richi, Cavalieri and Santa Maria runnerup Splendora. “She just gets stronger and stronger and has just developed into a really nice filly.”
Richi (who paid $3.20) led all the way in the $200,000, Grade II Santa Maria and won by 4 ½ lengths, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.60, the second-fastest time for the race in the past 11 years. Splendora and jockey Juan Hernandez finished 12 lengths clear of third-place Ultimate Authority. The field was reduced to five fillies and mares with the scratch of Sun Of Hill.
This was the first stakes win aboard a Baffert horse for Fresu, who began riding Richi in the Beholder.
“Looking at the form, I didn’t think she could be beat today,” Fresu said after the Santa Maria. “I kept things simple. I took the lead, tried to do my thing, and she won very easily. You could see she wasn’t even tired. I never asked her.”
The Santa Maria has been a productive race, the past four of Baffert’s record six previous winners going on to Grade I victories.
Richi could continue that pattern after stretching out and stepping up to this victory after scoring her first U.S. stakes, winning the Grade III Las Flores, a sprint, in January.
Could she get a rematch with Cavalieri, the 4-year-old filly who’s 4 for 4? Probably no time soon, because Cavalieri is nominated to the Grade I La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 2, the day before the Kentucky Derby. But Baffert can dream of having two females like this ready to square off in the fall.
The Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar will include the $2 million Distaff at 1 1/8 miles and the $1 million Filly and Mare Turf at 7 furlongs.
“It would be nice to get to the Breeders’ Cup, healthy and on top of their game,” Baffert said.
FINISH LINES
• Journalism was clocked in 47 seconds for 4 furlongs with jockey Umberto Rispoli aboard in the colt’s final workout at Santa Anita before heading to Churchill Downs as the favorite for the May 3 Kentucky Derby.
The workout, in company with stablemate Feel the Magic, was the fourth-fastest of 97 at the distance Saturday morning. Journalism, the Santa Anita Derby winner, leaves for Louisville on Tuesday and is scheduled for one workout there.
Trainer Michael McCarthy said it was a “maintenance” workout.
• Sunday’s $100,000, Grade III American Stakes, a turf mile at Santa Anita, marks the 4-year-old debuts of Grade II winner King of Gosford (Flavien Prat riding), the 3-2 morning-line favorite, and Grade III winner Endlessly (Rispoli), 9-2 third choice behind Cabo Spirit (Mike Smith), who’s 4-1.