Gossip Girl: Chismosa Earns Graded Win in Las Flores

A week after a pair of California-breds battled to the wire in the GI La Brea S., the state-bred program was back in the spotlight again on Monday's holiday card at Santa Anita when Jaime Renella's Chismosa (Clubhouse Ride) capped a three-win day for her sire with a 1 1/4-length victory in the GIII Las Flores S. Sent off at 8-1, Chismosa settled just off the pace as favored Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca), making just her second career start, blitzed through a quarter in :21.96 and a half in :44.70 while chased by Hot Peppers (Khozan). The pacesetter drifted out badly into the stretch, allowing Chismosa to cut the corner and skip to the lead at the top of the lane. With a resurgent Hot Peppers to her inside and a determined Sweet Azteca to her outside, Chismosa refused to be beaten and was drawing away late.

“She is an amazing filly,” said Renella. “She's never had a clean trip in all of her races, and we finally got one today. Starting off the new year like this–there's more to come.”

Renella emigrated with his family to the U.S. from Ecuador when he was four, according to a recent profile by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Founder of Performance Tube Bending Inc., an Irwindale-based company specializing in creating customized intake/exhaust systems for automobiles, he claimed Chismosa's dam, You Can Dream (Cat Dreams), for $20,000 in 2010.   “She ran very game,” said winning jockey Kyle Frey. “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.”

Winning trainer Rafael DeLeon added, “I thought Kyle made a good move. We talked in the paddock of how she is just one pace. If she picked up the bridle, she's ready to go. He felt right away the filly picked up the bridle and he was looking for room and he found a clear space inside the other horse. I'm happy he did that. I'm happy to win and I thank God for giving me the victory.”

Chismosa opened her career with three straight wins–including two stakes triumphs–versus state-bred foes at Del Mar in the summer of 2022, but she went to the sidelines following a score in the Generous Portion S. in September. She suffered her first loss when sixth on return in the May 6

GIII Senorita S. and, while her four on-the-board efforts in stakes company included a runner-up effort in the July 4 GII Great Lady M S., a series of troubled trips kept her out of the winner's circle in eight 2023 outings. She was most recently fifth in the Nov. 12 Betty Grable S.

“I gave her some time off because every morning I touch my horses and she didn't like when I touched her in a certain spot, so I sent her to my farm for a little while,” said DeLeon. “Once she came back, she came back to win.”

Pedigree Notes:
Chismosa is the third graded winner for Clubhouse Ride, who has also been represented by Warren's Showtime and Brickyard Ride.

You Can Dream, who was claimed by owner/breeder Jaime Renella for $20,000 in 2010, produced a colt by Acclamation in 2022 and a filly by that sire in 2023. The colt sold for $100,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearling Sale. The mare was bred back to Acclamation. The winner's third dam, Regal Band, produced GI Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos.

Monday, Santa Anita
LAS FLORES S.-GIII, $100,000, Santa Anita, 1-1, 4yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.22, ft.
1–CHISMOSA, 122, f, 4, by Clubhouse Ride
                1st Dam: You Can Dream, by Cat Dreams
                2nd Dam: Siphonophora, by Siphon (Brz)
                3rd Dam: Regal Band, by Dixieland Band
   1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Jaime R Renella (CA); T-Rafael
DeLeon; J-Kyle Frey. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 12-4-2-2,
$368,250. Werk Nick Rating: A.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hot Peppers, 124, f, 5, Khozan–Friends Pro, by Friends Lake.
($40,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $16,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN).
O-Michael J. Caruso and Michael Dubb; B-Brent & Crystal
Fernung (FL); T-Philip D'Amato. $20,000.
3–Sweet Azteca, 120, f, 4, Sharp Azteca–So Sweetitiz, by Grand
Slam. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Pamela
Cee Ziebarth (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $12,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 8.30, 2.00, 1.20.
Also Ran: Lady T, Violent Runner.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Cal-Bred Chismosa Halts Winless Skid With Clean Trip, Makes Grade In Las Flores

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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Fair Grounds Barn Tour: After a Banner Year, Trainer Mike Stidham Talks 2024

On Saturday, Dec. 30, trainer Mike Stidham saddled Tufani, the $100,000 Pago Hop victress at Fair Grounds, marking his fourth time winning that event and a fitting end to what has been another big year for Stidham Racing.

In his 34th year as a trainer, Stidham surpassed his high-water mark for earnings to reach $5,098,073 in 2023. A big part of that success was Godolphin's Proxy, who capped off a sensational career with a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) to go along with his two graded stakes victories in 2023.

On Jan. 1, Godolphin's Heckled won Race 8 at Fair Grounds, breaking her maiden for Stidham by open lengths and possibly setting the tone for what could be a thrilling year.

What does Stidham have in store for 2024? Stidham's barn at Fair Grounds includes two very exciting newly turned 3-year-olds in Phantom Speed and Central Avenue, along with a slew of talented turf horses readying for an afternoon appearance. Stidham provided an update on some of his top horses.

Central Avenue:

With a third-place finish in the Golden Rod (G2) on Churchill Downs' Stars of Tomorrow II card and a second-place finish in October's Frizette (G1), Godolphin's Central Avenue could be a major player in the 3-year-old filly division in 2024.

“She's been working well at Fair Grounds. We're looking at her for the preps that lead to the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), so we'll see.”

In her sixth local drill, the daughter of Street Sense breezed a swift :47.80 half-mile on New Year's Eve, going second fastest of 82.

Phantom Speed:

After an impressive second-place finish when sprinting on debut, Pin Oak Stud's Phantom Speed stretched out on the Road to the Derby Kickoff Day undercard and finished third. The Arrogate colt ran well but was beaten by Ethan Energy, trained by Brad Cox.

“I expected a little bit better, but the Cox horse looks like something special. (Phantom Speed) is a big, heavy colt. Certainly he's going to benefit from the race and improve physically and mentally from that run. That came up a very solid maiden race. Anytime you've got a well-bred $700,000 yearling that comes out and runs a big race like he did the first time out you begin thinking along the lines (of derbies), but we're a long way out from thinking that high.”

Catnip: 

At 9-4-1-1 with $369,849 in career earnings, Susan and John Moore's Catnip won the Monmouth Cup (G3) in June of 2023.

“He's really doing well. Training very well. We're happy with him. We're waiting to see if we get an invitation to the Pegasus Turf. If that happens, we'll probably go there. If it doesn't happen then we'll definitely be looking at the Colonel Bradley.”

The $100,000 Colonel E.R. Bradley is an older turf route scheduled to be run on the Jan. 20 Road to the Derby Day. Stidham won the 2011 edition with Optimizer.

Tufani:

With her second win at the 2023-2024 meet, the Godolphin filly has proven she fits against stakes caliber fillies. Having not debuted until April of 2023, with the Pago Hop Tufani's record is 7-4-1-0.

“(Tufani) has always shown us a lot of talent since we first got her,” Stidham said. “She's developed. She's learned to relax. I think the arrow is pointing up for her. Ben (Curtis) has done a great job with getting her to settle and come running like that. I'm very pleased with what he's done for us.”

Nelson Avenue: 

On Dec. 27 Nelson Avenue posted his first workout since finishing third in a Dec. 10 allowance at Fair Grounds. The two-time winning 5-year-old by Into Mischief breezed 4 furlongs in :48.80, ranking 16th fastest of 52 at that distance.

“He's doing well. We're looking to try Nelson in a turf race for his next start. There's a turf allowance on (January) the 20th we're looking at for him.”

Maycocks Bay:

“We've always liked Maycocks Bay. He's another one we're going to try on the grass. He's out of a filly named Hallie Belle that we raced and she was a stakes winner on turf. His next start will be on the grass.”

Godolphin's Maycocks Bay is entered in a turf route allowance at Fair Grounds on Jan. 7, 2024. His dam Hallie Belle won the 2017 Pago Hop.

Mill Street: 

After two fourth-place finishes this fall, Godolphin's newly turned 3-year-old Mill Street ran again to break his maiden on Nov. 25 at Fair Grounds. Bet to 4-1 against a field of 14, the Medaglia d'Oro gelding finished tenth.

“We've liked Mill Street from early on. We were disappointed in his last race for sure. At Colonial and Keeneland both of his races were looking like he just needed a little bit more distance. That he could sit back and make a decent run,. Then the other day he was kinda flat at the end. We do still like him. We're just looking for him to put it together. He's always impressed us as being a better 3-year-old than a 2-year-old so we'll see what happens with him.”

Sweet Miss Maggie:

Similar to her half sibling Chop Chop, who ran second in the Alcibiades (G1), Sweet Miss Maggie debuted on turf on New Year's Eve. Finishing near the back, the Omaha Beach filly showed her readiness to get into the race through the first two calls before fading.

“Her family indicates that the grass should help her. Her dirt works have not been spectacular but they've been solid. We're thinking that the grass will help her do well in the afternoon, so that's why started her in that spot.”

Heckled:

On Jan. 1, Godolphin's Heckled won Race 8 at Fair Grounds, breaking her maiden for Stidham by open lengths on turf. Godolphin's 4-year-old Hard Spun filly debuted in third at Fair Grounds last winter and had since finished second four times for an 8-0-4-1 record.

“She's had some tough beats. Second four times in a row this summer. Keeneland she was fourth, only beaten two lengths. She's very capable of still being a decent filly.”

Benji Star:

A recently turned 3-year-old Louisiana-bred, Benji Star has caught Stidham's eye.  The son of Upstart out of the Posse mare Skye High has posted two recent gate workouts, and on Dec. 27 went five furlongs from the gate in a nice 1:01.20, eighth best of 30 on the day.

“He'll be making his first start soon. He's a La-bred we're impressed with, and I don't usually have a lot of La-breds. When we've had opportunities with Louisiana-breds, we've done OK with them. We had a horse named Jockamo's Song for Dare To Dream that won a few of the Louisiana-bred stakes (including the 2015 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint and the 2016 Costa Rising).”

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