Richi delivered a spectacular performance in the Clásico Santa María, keeping the tradition alive...

South American racing added another feather to its cap at Santa Anita Park, courtesy of a brilliant performance from the outstanding Chilean mare

Richi asserted clear dominance over her rivals / BENOIT PHOTO

ARCADIA, California—Special to the Turf Diario—The close bond between the G2 Santa Maria S. and South American racing added yet another chapter on Saturday at Santa Anita Park, as Chilean-bred Richi delivered a powerful performance to become the 13th South American-born mare to capture the historic contest.

Following in the hoofprints of such standouts as Argentina’s Kankam (Minera II, 1980), Mausie (Mariache, 1988), Bayakoa (Consultant's Bid, 1990), Paseana (Ahmad, 1992), Lovellón (Potrillón, 2001), Star Parade (Parade Marshal, 2004 and 2006), Miss Loren (Numerous, 2005), and Vale Dori (Asiatic Boy, 2017); Chile’s Miss Brio(Semenenko, 1989) and India Divina (Roy, 1999); and Brazil’s Great Hot (Orientate, 2013), it was now the turn of the Practical Joke mare to soar.

Owned by Hill 'n' Dale and Stud Vendaval, Richi stamped her class in emphatic fashion, turning in a gate-to-wire tour de force that confirmed her status as the heavy favorite. Trained by Bob Baffert, she led home a 1-2 finish for the Hall of Famer, with stablemate Splendora (Audible) finishing a well-beaten second, 4 1/2 lengths adrift.

Ridden with supreme confidence by Italian jockey Antonio Fresu, Richi seized command straight out of the gate and never looked back. She clicked off fractions of :22.78, :46.61, and 1:10.62 through six furlongs, shadowed early by longshot Fayette Fox (Sharp Azteca) and her barnmate Splendora, who was trying two turns for the first time. While Fayette Fox faded out of contention at the far turn, Splendora gave mild chase but never posed a serious threat. Fresu never had to move a muscle as Richi extended her margin turning for home, striding away with authority to claim her second graded stakes win in the U.S.

“Looking at the form, I really didn’t think anyone was going to beat her today,” Fresu said after the race. “I just kept things simple—let her break well, put her on the lead, and she did the rest. She won so easily, and you could tell she wasn’t even tired. She was clearly the best.”

A G1 winner in her native Chile, Richi stopped the clock in 1:42.60 for the 1 1/16 miles. Fellow Practical Joke filly Ultimate Authority checked in third, 12 lengths behind Splendora. Brazilian-bred Sun of Hill (Camelot Kitten), the other South American entered, was scratched.

Bred by Haras Paso Nevado, Richi earned her first U.S. graded score in January, capturing the GIII Las Flores S.going six furlongs. Last out, in her first ride under Fresu, she ran a game second behind top-class Cavalieri (Nyquist) in the GI Beholder Mile, after setting the pace.

“I told Antonio to just let her break clean and let her cruise on the front end,” said Baffert. “Both fillies were in a good spot. It was the first time around two turns for Splendora, and I think she’ll benefit a lot from the experience. Richi, on the other hand, has been through it before—she’s seasoned.”

Now five, Richi owns a record of 14-8-4-1 and earnings of $382,424.

“She’s just getting better and better,” Baffert added. “I really think she’s finally getting fully acclimated to racing in the U.S. That process can take a year sometimes. But she keeps getting stronger, and she’s become a really serious race mare".