Several notable horses are gearing up for an exciting competition at the Grade 3, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes this Saturday at Santa Anita Park. Among them, Pleasant, trained by Bob Baffert, is expected to be a key contender following her third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint last month. Another strong competitor, Pushiness, returns to graded stakes racing after a series of impressive performances. Additionally, Richi, making her second U.S. appearance, adds international flair to the race.

Baffert's Star Prepares for a Strong Comeback

Pleasant, under the guidance of renowned trainer Bob Baffert, has shown significant promise despite a recent setback. Her performance in the Breeders' Cup, where she narrowly missed out on the top two spots, indicates that she is ready for another challenge. After a long hiatus, Pleasant demonstrated her resilience with a commanding victory in an allowance race at Los Alamitos in September. Jockey Juan Hernandez, who has been with her throughout her career, will continue to ride her in this important event.

In her most recent outing, Pleasant contested the pace from start to finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, leading into the final stretch before being overtaken by Soul of an Angel and Society. This experience, coupled with her earlier success, suggests that she has gained valuable racecraft. With three wins, one second, and one third place in five starts, Pleasant has amassed earnings of over $200,000. Her pedigree, as a daughter of Munnings, further underscores her potential. The upcoming Las Flores Stakes provides an excellent opportunity for Pleasant to prove her mettle once again.

Competitors Bring Diverse Backgrounds to the Race

Pushiness, trained by Michael McCarthy, brings a wealth of experience to the Las Flores Stakes. She has excelled in multiple stakes races, particularly against California-bred competitors. Her most recent performance in the Betty Grable Stakes saw her set the early pace but fade to third place. However, Pushiness has a perfect record at Santa Anita, having won both of her previous starts there. Regular rider Umberto Rispoli will be aboard for this race, adding consistency to her team.

Richi, a Group 1 winner in Chile, makes her second U.S. appearance after a commendable second-place finish in the Desert Stormer Stakes at Santa Anita in June. Since then, she has been training diligently, preparing for this crucial race. Owned by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Stud Vendaval Inc., Richi boasts an impressive overall record of six wins, three seconds, and no thirds in ten starts. Kazushi Kimura, riding Richi for the first time, will bring fresh energy to her performance. With these diverse backgrounds, the Las Flores Stakes promises to be a thrilling contest of skill and speed.