NEWS
Champion Latency captures Pellegrini
Posted: Saturday, December 15, 2007 9:39 PM
LATENCY
Marcelo Sarachi photo
Argentina’s champion older horse Latency delivered his patented late-closing kick to capture South America's signature event, the $385,016 Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini (Arg-G1), on Saturday at Hipodromo San Isidro in Buenos Aires.
Under Uruguayan Julio Cesar Mendez, the multiple Group 1-winning Slew Gin Fizz horse closed boldly in deep stretch to post a three-length victory over three-year-old Puchet. Favorite Candy Gift finished another 1 1/2 lengths back in third, with Group 1 winners Life of Victory and Fairy Magic rounding off the top five in the 23-horse-field.
Kentucky-bred Al Kadir was reluctant to enter the starting gate and was scratched. Group 1-placed My Happiness unseated his rider at the top of the stretch.
Fourth as a three-year-old in the 2004 edition of the race, Latency was making his first start since capturing the Gran Premio General San Martin (Arg-G1) on August 20 at Palermo.
Conditioned by Juan Udaondo, the consistent and versatile horse completed the 2,400-meter (11.93-furlong) test over turf rated as firm in 2.23.14. The victory marked his seventh Group 1 win and tenth victory overall in 22 career starts for owner Stud El Bobo.
“I had a clean and perfect trip and I was able to save ground around the turn and get him in the clear before he took care of the rest,” Mendez said.
Honored with the Carlos Pellegrini Award as Argentina’s champion miler and champion older horse in 2005, Latency’s other major victories include winning South America’s ‘06 Gran Premio Asociacion Latinoamericana de Jockey Clubes at Maronasin Uruguary and the ‘05 Gran Premio Estrellas Classic (Arg-G1) at San Isidro.
This year’s edition of the Pellegrini represented an emotional moment as 50-year-old jockey Jorge Valdivieso bid farewell to fans, with two victories on the card and a second-place finish aboard Puchet in the Pellegrini, ending successful 32-year-old career.
Bred by Dardo Fernandez Aramburu’s Haras Las Dos Manos, Latency is out of multiple Group 2 winner Latencia, by El Asesor (Arg).
Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
