Cal-Bred Chismosa Gets the Grade in Las Flores
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Chismosa wins the Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Chismosa continued the roll of California-breds excelling in open company with her decisive victory in the Jan. 1 $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
It had been a year and a half since Kyle Frey had been aboard Chismosa when he guided the daughter of Clubhouse Ride to the winner's circle in her debut in July 2022. Since then, Chismosa had been ridden by different jockeys, capturing two state-bred stakes and placing in graded stakes company.
Reunited for filly's first start as a newly minted 4-year-old in the six-furlong Las Flores, Frey kept Chismosa off a hot early pace between dueling favorites Hot Peppers and Sweet Azteca . Creeping closer around the final bend, Frey darted Chismosa through an opening between the frontrunners at the top of the stretch when Sweet Azteca blew the turn, drifting to the center of the racetrack.
Chismosa overtook Hot Peppers and drew clear by 1 1/4 lengths under the wire.
Trained by Rafael DeLeon for owner Jamie Renella, Chismosa ($18.60) stopped the timer in 1:10.22 for 6 furlongs.
Hot Peppers and Sweet Azteca completed the trifecta.
What They Said
"It's kind of like full circle getting back on the filly today. She ran very game. 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." —Kyle Frey