Argentine mare Super Shine captured the Desert Stormer Stakes at Santa Anita Park

In her return to action after more than eight months on the sidelines, the Super Saver filly, bred by Haras Firmamento, was ridden by Chilean jockey Héctor Berríos

Héctor Berríos and Super Shine: A South American Duo for a Major Victory / BENOIT PHOTO

ARCADIA, California (Special for Turf Diario).- After more than eight months away from the races, Argentine mare Super Shine returned in the best possible fashion, capturing the Desert Stormer Stakes (L) (US$100,000) over 6 furlongs on Santa Anita Park’s main dirt track this Sunday.

Ridden by Chilean jockey Héctor Berríos, the Super Saver filly bred by Haras Firmamento broke sharply to take the early lead and held off the strong challenge of heavy favorite Chismosa (Clubhouse Ride), edging her out in the final stages to earn her first graded victory in the United States after several near misses.

The race took an unexpected turn in the hours before when Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca), a G1 winner also prepping for her comeback, was scratched.

With only three runners in the gate, Super Shine got away well, quickly seizing the lead, pressed from the start by Fayette Fox (Sharp Azteca), while Chismosa tracked in third about two lengths off the pace. On the turn, the Argentine mare began to pull clear of Fayette Fox, as Chismosa, guided by Kyle Frey, started closing ground in the stretch.

In the final furlong, Chismosa closed to within a length but could not seriously threaten Super Shine, who held strong to cross the wire two lengths clear. Chismosa was a clear second, 4¼ lengths ahead of Fayette Fox, who finished last. The final time was 1:09.46, after splits of 22.16, 44.82, and 57.40 seconds.

During 2023, Super Shine contested four stakes in California, making an impact in each. She was second in the G2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita and the L Tranquility Lake Stakes at Del Mar, third in the G2 Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos, and fourth in the G2 Santa Margarita Stakes. In two of those races, poor starts limited her chances.

“I remember last year she used to drift out a lot at the break,” Berríos said. “Today she was much more focused. Once I took the lead comfortably, I knew the race was hers.”

Bred in Argentina and a G2 winner there in 2023, Super Shine is a six-year-old representing R Unicorn Stable and trained by Phil D’Amato.

“We planned to run her here as part of her buildup toward Del Mar,” the trainer explained. “I have to congratulate my team at Los Alamitos—they worked hard with her at the gate. In her last two races, she lost because of bad breaks, but today she broke sharp and never looked back. She’s a quality mare, and we look forward to having fun with her the rest of the year.”