From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 1, 2024) – Benefitting from an early speed duel between favorites Sweet Azteca and Hot Peppers, California-bred multiple stakes winner Chimosa broke through with her first graded score on Monday with a game victory in the $100,000 Grade III Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita.
Chismosa is by Clubhouse Ride, out of the Cat Dreams mare You Can Dream, was bred by owner Jaime Renella and is trained by Rafael DeLeon. She has four wins in 12 starts, earnings of $368,250 and was coming off a fifth in the Nov. 12 Betty Grable.
The key to the race was a decision by jockey Kyle Frey, when favored Sweet Azteca ducked out at the top of the stretch. Frey essentially cut the corner with Chismosa and went on to a hard-fought score.
Chismosa was about two lengths off Sweet Azteca and Frankie Dettori while third mid-way 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.
Chismosa beat Hot Peppers by 1 1/4 lengths, running the six furlongs in 1:10.22 and giving sire Clubhouse Ride his third winner on the card.
“She told me she was ready with her workouts,” said DeLeon. “In a short distance, I think she is one of the best horses we have. She showed up today.”
Chismosa was the second-longest shot in the field of five at 8-1. The win snapped an eight-race losing streak for Chismosa, dating back to her Generous Portion Stakes win at Del Mar Sept. 5, 2022. She did, however, finish second in the Grade II Great Lady M Stakes last July 4.
“We finally got a clean trip,” said Renella, who noted that DeLeon also trained the dam, You Can Dream. “This is the guy.”