Richi gives Bob Baffert his seventh Santa Maria Stakes win

Richi gives Bob Baffert his seventh Santa Maria Stakes win

ARCADIA — Out from the shadow of a sensational stablemate, Richi romped in the bright sunshine on a perfect spring day at Santa Anita on Saturday, running away with the Santa Maria Stakes as jockey Antonio Fresu barely had to urge her on. Last time out, Richi had run well but couldn’t quite hold off Cavalieri in the Beholder Mile. If any of that suggests Richi won this time only because she didn’t have to face Cavalieri, let’s be clear. The 5-ye…

Baffert hits exacta with Richi, Splendora in Santa Maria

Odds-on favorite Richi broke in front and never was headed on her way to a 4 1/2-length win over Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Splendora in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes for older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Richi (3-5) set fractions of 22.78, 46.61 and 1:10.62 while being tracked by both long shot Fayette Fox (21-1) and Splendora (8-5). Fayette Fox began to weaken near the qua…