by Michael Burns
 
Fortanyo, among the best dirt performers in Peru, has been pegged the early favorite to win the $210,000 Gran Premio Internacional Asociacion Latinoamericana de Jockey Clubes e Hipodromos – Copa Falabella (Per-G1), South America's most prestigious weight-for-age event, on Saturday.

This year’s 24th renewal of the Latinoamericano will be run at 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) on the dirt at the Jockey Club del Peru’s Hipodromo de Monterrico in Lima. The race, a multinational Group 1, is for three-year-olds and older who are nominated by the nation and track members of the Asociacion Latinoamericana de Jockey Clubes.

Fortanyo will bid for his fourth straight victory on the dirt following his runner-up finish to Florida Derby (G1) hopeful Tomcito in the Clasico Derby Nacional (Per-G1) (Peruvian Derby) in November. The Farallon P. colt exits a half-length victory in the Latino qualifier Clasico Alfredo Benavidez on February 17.

Fortanyo has won four of nine starts, including the Clasico Hipodromo de Monterrico (Per-G2). All four of his victories have come on the dirt.

Also entered is George Strawbridge’s Kurbat, a 10 3/4-length winner of the Clasico St. Leger-Cristal (Chi-G1), who leads a strong Chilean delegation.

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent

The field, in post-position order with (sire) jockey, weight, and trainer:
 
1. Paso Al Frente (Denver County), Anyelo Rivera, 123, Guillermo Peralta;
 
2. Kurbat (Mon Pote Le Gitan), Luis Torres, 123, Jose Allende;
 
3. Farushenko (Roy), no rider, 123, Juan Suarez;
 
4. My Happiness (Festin [Arg]), Jose Monteza, 134, Thomas Tribolet;
 
5. Real Merchant (Merchant of Venice), Hector Berrios, 123, Juan P. Baeza;
 
6. Secretario Plan (Silver Planet), Francisco Arreguy, 132, Edmundo Rodriguez;
 
7. Bucaneer (Boatman), Carlos Lavor, 132, Ricardo Colombo;
 
8. Super Cat (Cloud Watch), Carlos Mendez, 132, Mario Gonzales;
 
9. Deepak (Pikepass), Carlos Trujillo, 128, Jorge Salas;
 
10. Yo Te Lo Dije (Stuka), Victor Ramirez, 132, Patricio Baeza;
 
11. Allianz Arena (Prospector’s Cap), Jose Retes, 128, Augusto Olivares;
 
11a. Morena (Privately Held), second substitute, 119, Augusto Olivares;
 
12. Polizonte (Prospector’s Cap), Benjamin Padilla, 132, Juan Suarez;
 
13. Fortanyo (Farallon P.), Victor Fernandez, 123, Jaime Rizo Patron.