by Michael Burns

Tanta Honra powered to the front in the stretch under a hand ride from Marcos Mazini to take the first leg of Sao Paulo's Triple Crown for fillies on turf with a clear victory in the Grande Premio Barão de Piracicaba (Brz-G1) on Saturday at Sao Paulo’s Jockey Club Cidade Jardim racecourse.
 
Making her first start at Cidade Jardim, the Crimson Tide filly appeared to relish the heavy ground. She put away pacesetter Shining Queen at the top of the stretch as the field of 11 three-year-old fillies crossed over to the exterior part of the course. Tanta Honra shook off a late challenge from Square Dance en route to a 1 ¾-length triumph as the second choice.

Lovely Lady finished 2 ¼ lengths behind Square Dance in third. Favorite Cores do Brasil, who recently was named Brazil's champion two-year-female for the 2007-'08 season, faded to seventh after stalking the early leader.

Jose Aparecido, the jockey of runner-up Square Dance, claimed foul against the winner but track stewards did not change the original order of finish.

Trained by Julio Cezar Sampaio, Tanta Honra covered one mile on turf rated as heavy in 1:40.69 to register her third group stakes victory and first at the highest level.

Bred by Luis Antonio Ribeiro Pinto and owned by Stud Sao Francisco da Serra, Tanta Honra improved to four wins in seven career starts. A Group 2 winner at two, she entered off a 2 3/4-length triumph in the Grande Premio Joao Adhemar e Nelson de Almeida Prado (Brz-G3) at La Gavea on July 12.  Tanta Honra is out of the Nashwan mare Tana-Am.

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent