NEWS
Sal Grosso kicks home in Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Posted: Monday, February 22, 2010 3:28 PM
by Michael Burns
TNT Stud’s Sal Grosso scored a half-length victory at La Gavea on Sunday in the Grande Premio Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brz-G1), the first leg of the Jockey Club Brasileiro’s Triple Crown series for three-year-old males.
Under a timely ride from Marcos Mazini, the three-year-old Our Emblem colt unleashed a devastating rally in the stretch to prevail, covering 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) in 1:33.65 for his first win on the turf
Haras Santa Maria de Araras' Too Friendly edged Sao Paulo classic winner Vupt Vapt by three-quarters of a length for the runner-up spot in the accomplished 20-horse field.
Trained by Venancio Nahid, Sal Grosso has won or placed in six of seven career starts.
Winner of a maiden race in October, Sal Grosso entered off a fourth-place finish in the Grande Premio Jose Buarque de Macedo (Brz-G3) on turf rated as soft on January 24 at La Gavea.
Sal Grosso is expected to make his next start on March 21 in the Grande Premio Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado (Brz-G1), the second leg of La Gavea's Triple Crown for three-year-olds on the turf.
Bred in Brazil by Gonzalo Torrealba’s TNT Stud, Sal Grosso is out of Kentucky-bred Grade 3 winner Ken de Saron, by Kenmare (Fr). He is a half brother to French Group 2-placed winner Jipapibaquigrafo and French stakes-placed winner Theatriken.
Michael Burns is a South American-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
