by Michael Burns

Making her first appearance in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro invader Love Tune unleashed an explosive move in midstretch to score a comfortable 3 ¾-length victory in the Grande Premio Joao Cecilio Ferraz (Brz-G1 on Saturday at Hipodromo Cidade Jardim.

Piloted by Tiago Josue Pereira, the Our Emblem filly completed the 1,500-meters (7.45 furlongs) in 1:29.84 for her first stakes victory and second overall in four career starts.

Second choice Surfer Girl edged Cores do Brasil for second in the 11-horse field.

Owned by Haras Internacional, a partnership that includes South American breeder Goncalo Torrealba, Love Tune entered off a pair of unplaced efforts in stakes following a winning debut at La Gavea on January 19.

Bred in Brazil by Stud Mega, Love Tune is by Our Emblem out of the Solstein mare Breeder’s Song, runner-up in the 1999 Grande Premio Diana (Brz-G1) (Sao Paulo Oaks), a half sister to  ‘04 Grande Premio Cruzeiro do Sul (Brz-G1) (Rio de Janeiro Derby) winner License To Run (Brz), a Grade 2 winner in the United States. 

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent