by Michael Burns

Argentine Group 1 winner Body Soguero opened up a commanding lead in the stretch and scored a six-length victory in the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (Arg-G1), the highlight of three Group 1 events on Saturday at San Isidro.

Ridden confidently by Juan Carlos Noriega, Body Soguero was rated in third through steady fractions in the spread out 12-horse field behind pacemaker El Galactico and three-year-old filly Princesa Carina.  Body Soguero gained command at the top of the stretch and pulled clear to a convincing win.

Plenty of Glory finished well to take second, three-quarters of a length clear of Javanais. TNT Stud’s Princesa Carina held on for fourth.

Body Soguero, who made his turf debut Gran Premio 25 de Mayo, covered 2,400 meters (11.93 furlongs) on turf rated as firm in 2:24.35 for his fourth victory in seven career starts.

Winner of the Clasico Eduardo Casey (Arg-G2) in October before suffering an injury while finishing last in the Nacional Copa Secretario de Turismo - Argentine Derby (Arg-G1), Body Soguero returned from a five-month layoff to impressively score in the Gran Premio de Honor  - Copa Julio y Carlos Menditeguy (Arg-G1) on the dirt at Palermo on April 5. Trained by Federico Martucci for owner Stud Fejiparema, Body Soguero entered off a disappointing third-place finish as the favorite in the Gran Premio Republica Argentina (Arg-G1) on May 3.

Bred in Argentina by Interstal S.A. and Arturo Moscon, Body Soguero is a Southern Hemisphere three-year-old colt out of the Purple Mountain mare Visee de Femme.

Earlier on the card, Cagnotte trounced 12 rivals in the Gran Premio de Potrancas (Arg-G1) for two-year-old fillies on turf. The Sunray Spirit filly won by six lengths under Jorge Ricardo to remain unbeaten in two career starts. Cagnotte covered one mile in 1:34.31 on firm turf. Out of the Payant mare Compagne, Cagnotte became the first stakes winner for freshman sire Sunray Spirit.

Also on the card, Flag Frances was a surprising 2 ½-length winner in the Gran Premio Gran Criterium (Arg-G1) for two-year-old colts on turf. Ridden by Jose Ricardo Mendez, the Flag Down colt completed one mile in 1:33.65 for his second win in five career starts. Second choice Rock in Bage finished second followed by favorite Don Misil.

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent