by Michael Burns

Eyeofthetiger rallied wide in the stretch under Edwin Talaverano to capture the $322,916 Gran Premio Nacional (Arg-G1) (Argentine Derby), the final leg of the Argentine Triple Crown, on Saturday at Palermo.

The Tempranero colt closed steadily from the back of the pack and finished strongest in the lane to defeat the well-regarded Puchet by 1 1/2 lengths.

Longshot Arandano En Boca finished a distant third in Argentina’s premiere classic. Indio Glorioso, winner of the Jockey Club (Arg-G1) on October 13, finished eighth in the 15-horse field.

Trained by Ricardo Reighert, Eyeofthetiger completed 2,500 meters (12.42 furlongs) on a wet-fast track in 2:35.55 for his third win in seven career starts for owner Stud Don David.

Eyeofthetiger entered off an unplaced finish in the Jockey Club, the second leg of Argentina’s Triple Crown, and previously placed third in both the Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) (Arg-G1) and Dos Mil Guineas-Consagracion de Potrillos (Arg-G1).

Eyeofthetiger is out of Group 3 winner Coy Sister, by Parochial.

Earlier on the card, sprint specialist Lady Sprinter, a Kentucky-bred three-year-old Orientate filly, remained unbeaten in six career starts with a front-running two-length win in the $34,775 Gran Premio Maipu (Arg-G1) under the world’s winningest rider, Brazilian Jorge Ricardo.

Also on the card, Fairy Magic, winner of the Gran Premio Estrellas Classic (Arg-G1) on June 30, made a triumphant return from a layoff of more than four months with a clear 1 ½-length victory in the Gran Premio Palermo (Arg-G1), a 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) dirt race.

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent