by Michael Burns

Tomcito, a Kentucky-bred colt by leading second-crop sire Street Cry (Ire), delivered a resounding 9 3/4-length victory on Sunday in the Clasico Ricardo Ortiz de Zevallos (Per-G1), the second leg of the Peruvian Quadruple Crown, at Hipodromo de Monterrico in Lima.

Tomcito, a Northern Hemisphere two-year-old, recovered to win impressively after avoiding a near accident on the first turn. Tomcito was carried wide and checked, forcing him to drop back to next to last as the overwhelming favorite under Benjamin Padilla in the 2,000-meter (9.94-furlong) race.

Tomcito accelerated to the lead with 300 meters remaining and easily drew away from ten challengers to win in 2:09.60 on a track rated as fast. Pacesetting stablemate Lulito held on to finish second with Quiron third. Peru’s top-rated juvenile, Granizo, finished a distant ninth.

Trained by Juan Suarez, Tomcito earned his first Group 1 victory and improved his record to three wins in four career starts for owner Stud Jet Set.

A winner of his first two starts by a combined 26 lengths, Tomcito entered off a runner-up finish in the Clasico Polla de Potrillos (Per-G1) (Peruvian Two Thousand Guineas) on September 23.

Bred in Kentucky by Chesapeake Farm and Darley, Tomcito is out of the unraced Eastern Echo mare Inside Or Outside, a half sister to 2001 Canadian champion turf male and sire Numerous Times and stakes winner Ten a Penny.

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent