Richi Looms A Major Threat For Baffert In Saturday’s Grade II, Santa Maria Stakes

Santa Anita PressBox —-

Richi; Benoit Photo

RICHI LOOMS A MAJOR THREAT FOR BAFFERT IN SATURDAY’S GRADE II, $200,000 SANTA MARIA STAKES FOR OLDER FILLIES AND MARES GOING 1 1/16 MILES AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (April 14, 2025)—Richi, who was narrowly beaten by star stablemate Cavalieri in last month’s GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile at Santa Anita, will look to bag a second U.S. graded stakes win in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes for older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Richi set the pace in the Beholder Mile before being overhauled late by Cavalieri to lose by three-quarters of a length. Previously this year, Richi won the GIII Las Flores going six furlongs in January and was third in the GII Santa Monica going seven furlongs in February, both at Santa Anita

Bred in Chile, where she was a multiple Group 1 winner, Richi is owned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Stud Vendaval Inc. The 5-year-old mare by Practical Joke has an overall record of 13: 7-4-1 with $262,424 in earnings. Jockey Antonio Fresu, who was aboard for the Beholder Mile, again has the call.

Baffert also entered Splendora, who will be tested around two turns for the first time. At the recently concluded Classic Meet at Santa Anita, the 4-year-old filly by Audible finished second in the GI La Brea going seven furlongs and was fourth at the same distance in the GII Santa Monica.

Splendora will be ridden by Classic Meet leading jockey Juan Hernandez. She has a record of 5: 2-2-0 with $150,400 in earnings for owner By Talla Racing LLC.

Ultimate Authority gets a touch of class relief for trainer Tim Yakteen after finishing last in the Beholder Mile. The 4-year-old filly by Practical Joke is seeking her first stakes win. Prior to the Beholder Mile, Ultimate Authority cleared her first-level allowance condition going a mile on Jan. 19 at Santa Anita.

Ultimate Authority is 7: 2-2-0 with $109,760 in earnings for owners Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy and Roger K. Beasley. She will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura for the first time.

Lisa’s Nonno makes her stakes debut for trainer Mark Glatt and owner Double L Racing. A 5-year-old mare by Jimmy Creed, Lisa’s Nonno returned from a nearly eight-month layoff and promptly scored by a head in a first-level allowance going a mile Feb. 28 at Santa Anita. She enters with a record of 8: 2-2-2 and $128,740. Lisa’s Nonno will have Abel Lezcano aboard for the first time.

THE GII SANTA MARIA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 10 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

Richi – Antonio Fresu – 120
Splendora – Juan Hernandez – 120
Sun Of Hill – Umberto Rispoli – 120
Fayette Fox – Reylu Gutierrez – 120
Ultimate Authority – Kazushi Kimura – 120
Lisa’s Nonno – Abel Lezcano – 120

First post Saturday is at 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

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