On January 4, Chilean-bred Richi got her first win in the United States, scoring by 1½ lengths over stablemate Pleasant. Running at a distance probably shorter than her best, the 5-year-old signaled that, now that she has had time to acclimate to Northern Hemisphere conditions, she may have a bright future ahead of her this year.
Bred by Haras Paso Nevado, Richi compiled a fine record in her native land. Her six wins from nine starts included the 2023 Tanteo de Potrancas (CHI-G1) as a juvenile and the 2023 Premio Alberto Solari Magnasco (CHI-G1) at 3. The champion juvenile filly on dirt of 2023, she turned in her only bad effort when running against males in the 2023 Premio St. Leger (Chi-G1), her final Chilean start and perhaps one at a little more distance (about 11 furlongs) than she truly wanted. She did not run for six months after coming to the United States, checking in second in the Desert Stormer Stakes (USA-L) at Santa Anita on June 2, 2024, and the Las Flores marks her first start since then. Given that her top-level wins were at 1500 meters (about 7½ furlongs) and 2000 meters (about 1¼ miles), respectively, she should be able to handle more distance without an issue.
Richi is a daughter of three-time Grade 1 winner Practical Joke, a son of Distorted Humor who has gotten off to a good start at stud. Ranking only behind Gun Runner among sires of his cohort in North America since his first runners came out in 2021, he has also done well in Chile, where he was second to Constitution on the 2023 general sire list. He has sired 11 Grade/Group 1 winners thus far.
On the distaff side, Richi is the third foal out of Rich Baby, a Group 2-placed daughter of Scat Daddy who was also bred at Haras Paso Nevado. A half sister to 2012 Gran Premio de Honor (CHI-G2) winner Rich Court (by Powerscourt), Rich Baby is also a half sister to Group 1-placed Rich Lady (by Lookin At Lucky). Rich Baby has produced two winners by Verrazano in addition to Rich and has since produced Rubidia, a winning 2021 filly by Classic Empire, and a 2024 colt by Tiz the Law.
Rich Baby is out of American-bred Richwood Royal, a winning daughter of Royal Academy. A half sister to multiple English listed stakes winner Atmospheric (by Irish River), Richwood Royal, in turn, is out of Irish-bred Magic Feeling (by 1986 Prix Jean Prat, FR-G1, winner Magical Wonder, by Storm Bird), a stakes winner over hurdles in Ireland and the winner of the 1996 Estrapade Stakes (USA-L) at 1½ miles on the Hollywood turf course. Magic Feeling’s dam Papsie’s Pet was a daughter of Busted, a top-class horse at 10 to 12 furlongs, so Richi’s female line shows an interesting mix of speedy, stout, and intermediate influences.
Exactly how far Richi will want to go under American conditions, where the early pace tends to be hotter than in Chile, has yet to be determined, but her previous performances and her bloodlines suggest that 8 or 9 furlongs should not be beyond her scope. In any event, she looks like an interesting addition to the West Coast older female division and should be worth keeping an eye on.
Bred by Haras Paso Nevado, Richi compiled a fine record in her native land. Her six wins from nine starts included the 2023 Tanteo de Potrancas (CHI-G1) as a juvenile and the 2023 Premio Alberto Solari Magnasco (CHI-G1) at 3. The champion juvenile filly on dirt of 2023, she turned in her only bad effort when running against males in the 2023 Premio St. Leger (Chi-G1), her final Chilean start and perhaps one at a little more distance (about 11 furlongs) than she truly wanted. She did not run for six months after coming to the United States, checking in second in the Desert Stormer Stakes (USA-L) at Santa Anita on June 2, 2024, and the Las Flores marks her first start since then. Given that her top-level wins were at 1500 meters (about 7½ furlongs) and 2000 meters (about 1¼ miles), respectively, she should be able to handle more distance without an issue.
Richi is a daughter of three-time Grade 1 winner Practical Joke, a son of Distorted Humor who has gotten off to a good start at stud. Ranking only behind Gun Runner among sires of his cohort in North America since his first runners came out in 2021, he has also done well in Chile, where he was second to Constitution on the 2023 general sire list. He has sired 11 Grade/Group 1 winners thus far.
On the distaff side, Richi is the third foal out of Rich Baby, a Group 2-placed daughter of Scat Daddy who was also bred at Haras Paso Nevado. A half sister to 2012 Gran Premio de Honor (CHI-G2) winner Rich Court (by Powerscourt), Rich Baby is also a half sister to Group 1-placed Rich Lady (by Lookin At Lucky). Rich Baby has produced two winners by Verrazano in addition to Rich and has since produced Rubidia, a winning 2021 filly by Classic Empire, and a 2024 colt by Tiz the Law.
Rich Baby is out of American-bred Richwood Royal, a winning daughter of Royal Academy. A half sister to multiple English listed stakes winner Atmospheric (by Irish River), Richwood Royal, in turn, is out of Irish-bred Magic Feeling (by 1986 Prix Jean Prat, FR-G1, winner Magical Wonder, by Storm Bird), a stakes winner over hurdles in Ireland and the winner of the 1996 Estrapade Stakes (USA-L) at 1½ miles on the Hollywood turf course. Magic Feeling’s dam Papsie’s Pet was a daughter of Busted, a top-class horse at 10 to 12 furlongs, so Richi’s female line shows an interesting mix of speedy, stout, and intermediate influences.
Exactly how far Richi will want to go under American conditions, where the early pace tends to be hotter than in Chile, has yet to be determined, but her previous performances and her bloodlines suggest that 8 or 9 furlongs should not be beyond her scope. In any event, she looks like an interesting addition to the West Coast older female division and should be worth keeping an eye on.
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