In a race that changed inexplicably when favored Sweet Azteca ducked out at the top of the stretch, California-bred Chismosa essentially cut the corner and went on to a hard-fought 1¼-length score in Santa Anita's $100,000 Las Flores (G3), the main event on Monday's New Year's Day card.
Ridden by Kyle Frey and trained by Rafael DeLeon, Chismosa was about two lengths off early pacesetter Sweet Azteca and Frankie Dettori while third midway on the turn. From there, she angled outside the favorite leaving the quarter pole, but when Sweet Azteca ducked out, blowing the turn for home, Frey was able to cross over her heels, cutting to her inside. At that point, Chismosa was head and head with a resurgent Hot Peppers and was able to gradually draw clear nearing the wire.
Frey, who hadn't been aboard Chismosa since breaking her maiden 11 starts back on July 23, 2022 at Del Mar, picked up his first win at Santa Anita's fledgling Classic Meet.
Time for the six furlongs was 1:10.22 on a fast track.
Unbeaten in three starts at age 2, including a pair of state-bred stakes, Chismosa, a 4-year-old filly by Clubhouse Ride, was winless in eight starts last year and was off at 8-1 Monday in a field of five older fillies and mares, returning $18.60 for her victory.
“She ran very game,” Frey said. “As you saw, the favorite ducked out there at the top of the lane and I didn't want to lose a ton of ground by staying outside her, so I was able to cut inside, over heels and get to the inside. From there, she just kept grinding. Big effort.”
Owned by her breeder, Jaime Renella, Chismosa, who is out of the Cat Dreams mare You Can Dream, picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing her lifetime bankroll to $368,250 from an overall mark of 12-4-2-2.
“She's never had a clean trip in all of her races and we finally got one today,” Renella said.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Hot Peppers popped the gate but was unable to go with Sweet Azteca in the run to the five furlong pole. Off at 2-1, Hot Peppers finished 1¼ lengths in front of Sweet Azteca in third.
The 6-5 favorite, Sweet Azteca, set the early pace of :21.96, and :44.70 through a half mile and tried to re-rally after blowing the turn for home. She finished a half length better than fourth-place finisher Lady T. Violent Runner completed the order of finish.
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