by Michael Burns

Maiden Rica Roy closed from next to last under Jesus Medina to post an upset half-length victory over favorite Linda Love in the Gran Premio Seleccion de Potrancas (Arg-G1) on Thursday at Hipodromo La Plata in Buenos Aires.

Rica Roy was one of two maidens in the field of six three-year-old fillies. Trained by Roberto Bullrich, the bay Roy filly covered 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) in 2:05.66 on a track rated as fast to register her first win in seven career starts.

Pacemaker Royal Lane held third by a head over Lafayette Girl, who finished another three lengths back.

Rica Roy entered off a third-place finish, beaten seven-lengths, in a one-mile maiden race for fillies on August 8 at Palermo.

Owned by Stud Carampangue and bred by Bullines S.A., Rica Roy is out of the Luhuk mare Risita.

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent