A Gran Premio General San Martín with Acento Final—and a Possible Ticket to the Latino?

The Treasure Beach colt returned to the winner’s circle after nearly a year, defeating Need You Tonight and Crazy Talent; he could emerge as Palermo’s representative in next month’s continental showdown at Gávea in Brazil

Acento Final Proved Unstoppable in the Final 300 Meters/ JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Neither Crazy Talent (Equal Talent) nor Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja). After a thrilling stretch battle, victory in the G1 Gran Premio General San Martín (2400mT, good)—and perhaps Palermo’s ticket to the G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano—went to Acento Final, the same colt who stunned in the G1 Gran Premio Jockey Club at San Isidro in 2024 and, nearly a year later, finally found his way back to the winner’s circle in what may have been one of the toughest challenges of his career.

Opening Palermo’s top-level program, the son of Treasure Beach dug deep to pull off a hard-fought score, edging out the pair who entered as the public’s choices and recent form standouts.

With Oleguer (Equal Stripes) setting a crawling pace—26.78, 53.79, 1:19.48, and 1:44.38—the race came alive in the stretch. Need You Tonight attacked on the rail, Acento Final followed through the second lane, and Crazy Talentloomed wider, as the four-way tussle unfolded. From the 200-meter pole to the wire, it was down to two, and under Kevin Banegas, the dark bay had just enough to hold off the country’s leading dirt runner, who was tackling both turf and 2400 meters for the first time.

At the line, Acento Final had a half-length on Need You Tonight, with Crazy Talent another 1½ lengths back in third and Oleguer rounding out the superfecta, four more lengths away. Final time: 2:32.79.

Bred by Haras Pozo de Luna and owned by Chile’s Arturo Cousiño and his Stud Macul, Acento Final had hinted at a return to form with a pair of solid efforts on dirt, but here he firmly announced his return to the big stage.

Special mention goes to trainer Nicolás Martín Ferro, who in 2024 sent both of San Isidro’s qualifiers—Vundu(Suggestive Boy)—to the Latino, and now adds Palermo’s San Martín to his résumé.

As for Need You Tonight, his performance was both brave and classy. He gave away every advantage yet lost nothing in defeat, and now connections can look toward the G1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro, or first stop at La Plata’s G1 Dardo Rocha, again on dirt.

Crazy Talent, meanwhile, lacked the same punch as in his recent victories, but against this level of opposition, his place among the elite remains unquestionable.