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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