By Michael Burns
Four-year-old Puerto Escondido (Arg) (Hurricane Cat), stamped himself as Argentina's top older horse on the grass with a scintillating victory in the G1 Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini, South America's most emblematic and richest race.
Sent off as the fans' choice in the field of 13, including seven winners at the highest level, Puerto Escondido filtered his way to the front while racing nearest the fence to pull away clear with 1000 meters remaining en route to a four-length rout under a masterful ride from jockey Osvaldo Alderete.
The win capped off a glorious season for the Pablo Sahagian pupil who broke his maiden late in his 3-year-old season when capturing the G1 Gran Premio Miguel A. Martinez de Hoz in April before scoring in the G3 Clasico Progreso and later posting a six-length romp in the G1 Gran Premio Copa de Oro over the Pellegrini course and distance in October.
Bred by Roberto Bullrich's Haras El Mallin, Puerto Escondido added his third G1 triumph and fifth victory from his last six starts after finishing second to Sixties Song (Arg) (Sixties Icon {GB}) as a maiden in last year's Carlos Pellegrini.
“I just told the rider to ride his race,” said an ecstatic trainer Pablo Sahagian, who celebrated his first Pellegrini triumph.
“I knew I had a good horse and a very good chance to win the race,” said jockey Osvaldo Alderete who rewarded the connections confidence with an impeccable ride.
Don Inc (Arg) (Include), ridden by Jorge Ricardo, took a three-way photo for second, finishing a neck in front of 3-year old Village King (Arg) (Campanologist), who bested Brazilian invader New In Town (Brz) (Fluke {Brz}), the race lone foreign starter by the minimal margin.
Sixties Song, hero in March of the G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano in Chile, faltered in the stretch after being in contention early to finish next to last.
Saturday, San Isidro (Buenos Aires), Argentina
GRAN PREMIO INTERNACIONAL CARLOS PELLEGRINI-G1, Ar$11,000,000 (US$626,485), San Isidro, 12-16, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:29.16, gd.
1–PUERTO ESCONDIDO (ARG), 132, c, 4, by Hurricane Cat
1st Dam: Surf Point (Arg), by Louis Quatorze
2nd Dam: Surfing (Arg), by Southern Halo
3rd Dam: Surface (Arg), by Logical
O-Stud Facundito; B-Haras El Mallin (Arg); T-Pablo Sahagian; J-Osvaldo Alderete; Ar$5,000,000. Lifetime Record: 13-5-2-1. *1/2 to Lange (Arg) (Aptitude), G1SW-Arg, $239,329. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A.
2–Don Inc (Arg), 134, h, 5, Include–Stormy Dove (Arg), by Bernstein. O-Stud Las Monjitas; B-Haras La Biznaga (Arg); T-Carlos Daniel Etchechoury; Ar$1,150,000.
3–Village King (Arg), 119, c, 3, Campanologist–Villard, by Pleasant Tap. O-Stud Keyser Soze; B-Haras Santa Maria de Araras (Arg); T-Carlos Daniel Etchechoury; Ar$750,000.
Margins: 4, NK, NO. Odds: 2.60, 10.60, 10.25.
Also Ran: New In Town (Brz), Marcus Aurelius (Arg), The Great Day (Arg), Global Big (Arg), Hat Valiente (Arg), Forty One (Arg), Wild Stream (Arg), Calcolatore (Arg), Sixties Song (Arg), Conwy (Arg).
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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