In just her second start since joining Bob Baffert's barn, Richi gave the Hall of Fame trainer his fourth winner of the day when defeating stablemate Pleasant by 1 1/2 lengths in the Jan. 4 $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
The six-furlong Las Flores also marked the second start in North America for the Chilean-bred Richi. A group 1 winner going 1 1/4 miles in her native country, the 5-year-old Practical Joke mare showed plenty of speed in Saturday's race when defeating a tough customer in Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) third Pleasant.
Runner-up in her North American debut in the Desert Stormer Stakes June 2, Baffert removed the blinkers for the Las Flores, which he attributed to the mare's ability to relax in her performance. Tracking the pacesetting Don't Bring Crazy in third along the fence, Richi cut the corner around the turn for home under jockey Kazushi Kimura and exploded past the fading front runner and a looming Pleasant. Finishing powerfully with Pleasant chasing, Richi ($8) hit the wire in a final time of 1:09.05.
Pleasant, favored at 1-5, was second while Don't Bring Crazy held on for third.
Richi, campaigned by John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Stud Vendaval, earned her seventh win from 11 starts.
