NEWS
Eyeofthetiger shines in Republica Argentina
Posted: Sunday, May 04, 2008 7:07 PM
by Michael Burns
Argentine Derby winner Eyeofthetiger was the easiest of winners of the $321,884 Gran Premio Internacional Republica Argentina–Copa Loteria Nacional (Arg-G1) on Saturday at Hipodromo de Palermo in Buenos Aires.
The race anchored a program that included five other Group 1 stakes on a marathon 18-race card.
Under Edwin Talaverano, Eyeofthetiger charged down the middle of the track to win comfortably by three lengths while completing the 2,000-meter (9.94-furlong) race in 2:02.04 on a fast track, earning his most lucrative career victory for the partnership of owner Stud Don David.
Puchet held for second, four-lengths clear of Group 1 winner Body Soguero.
Eyeofthetiger, a three-year-old Tempranero colt, entered off a runner-up effort to Body Soguero in the Gran Premio de Honor (Arg-G1) on April 5 at Palermo after beginning the year with a third-place effort in the Clasico Otoño (Arg-G2) one month earlier.
Conditioned by Ricardo Reighert, Eyeofthetiger recorded his fourth career victory in 11 starts.
Lady Sprinter, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Orientate, proved too fast for her 11 rivals, scoring a one-length victory in the five-furlong Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Arg-G1). The victory was her second score at the highest level on the Palermo straightaway. Lady Sprinter completed the distance in :56.41.
Haras Santa Maria de Araras homebred Savoir Bien, solidified her credentials as Argentina’s top-rated two-year-old female with a neck victory in the Gran Premio Jorge De Atucha (Arg-G1). The Bernstein filly outlasted Cobra Farms’ So Shiny in a heated stretch duel to earn her first Group 1 success on the dirt. She completed the 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:29.91.
Brazilian-bred Runforthedoe scored by three-quarters of a length under Jorge Ricardo in the Gran Premio Montevideo (Arg-G1). By Our Emblem, the TNT Stud homebred completed the 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:30.68. Group 1 winner Bigness Emperor was a game second in the eight-horse field.
Copa de Plata (Arg-G1) winner Filarmonia tallied a four-length victory in the Gran Premio Criadores (Arg-G1) to win the inaugural Campeonato Palermo de Oro championship series for fillies and mares. The Haras Vacacion homebred added her second Group 1 tally and first on the dirt while completing the 2,000 meter (9.94 furlong) event in 2.02.87.
Estrellas Classic (Arg-G1) winner Fairy Magic, unraced since finishing unplaced in last season’s Carlos Pellegrini (Arg-G1), scored a half-length victory over seven rivals in the one-mile Gran Premio De las Americas-OSAF-Copa Eduardo S. Blousson (Arg-G1). The versatile four-year-old Southern Halo colt, notched his third win at the highest level and seventh win overall for owner Stud Las Hormigas. Fairy Magic covered the one mile on the dirt in 1:33.59.
Michael Burns is a South American-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
