by Michael Burns

Don Misil benefited from a well-timed ride by Julio Cesar Mendez and scored a neck victory in the Gran Premio Raul y Raul E. Chevalier (Arg-G1) on Saturday at Hipodromo San Isidro.

The Mutakddim colt saved ground under Mendez and held off a late charge from runner-up Perfectly to win Argentina's first Group 1 turf race of the season for two-year-old males. 

Blues and Rock, runner-up in last month’s Gran Premio Santiago Luro (Arg-G1) on the main track at Palermo, finished another 2 1/2 lengths back in third in his turf debut. Multiple group stakes winner Lloron Cat was prominent early but weakened to finish ninth in the 14-horse field.

Trained by Carlos Daniel Etchechoury, Don Misil completed 1,400 meters (6.96 furlongs) in 1:21.23 on firm turf to earn his first stakes victory. He improved to two wins in three career starts for owner-breeder Haras San Benito.

Don Misil is the first foal out of the Southern Halo mare Milonga Querida.

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent