A Stayer of a Different Class: Treasure Island Wins in a Canter

With a polished ride from Gustavo Calvente, Treasure Island proved a cut above the competition, strolling home in the Handicap Dorian Gray at San Isidro with ease

Treasure Island Nearly Turns It Into a Paid Workout / HAPSA

Nobody was caught off guard Monday at Palermo watching the two horses with top-level résumés fill the exacta in the H. Dorian Gray over 2500 meters on dirt, the lone event above everyday company on the card.

What does continue to surprise, however, is how the handicappers seem unwilling to separate genuine G1-class runners from the lower-tier performers that typically populate this level. The pounds never seem to land where they should, and the story always plays out the same way.

Back in his comfort zone, Treasure Island (Arg) (Treasure Beach {GB}) carried 61 kilos and reminded everyone why he has been among the country’s best stayers on any surface for the past two years. The Bien de Abajo homebred, kept in top form by Nicolás Martín Ferro, brushed aside his rivals with ease to defeat Endor Rye (Arg) (Endorsement), who toted 62 kilos and was coming off a runner-up finish to Need You Tonight (Arg) (Hat Ninja) in the G1 Estrellas Classic.

Winner of the G1 Dardo Rocha, G1 Copa de Oro, and a string of graded events including this year’s G2 General Belgrano, G2 Otoño, G2 Benito Villanueva, and the Listed Malvinas Argentinas, along with several placings at the highest level, Treasure Island had just been denied in a stakes at La Plata last out. This time, under a confident ride from Gustavo Calvente, he was never in danger. Sitting just off frontrunner Solicitadísimo (Arg) (Señor Candy), the dark bay took over around the far turn and drew off down the lane to score by five lengths in 2:36.75. Endor Rye was a clear second, with Solicitadísimo another length back in third.

Bred by Haras El Doguito, Treasure Island registered his 10th career victory, pushed his bankroll to the verge of 160 million pesos, and now looms as a serious candidate to return to the country’s most important staying races—most notably, a potential repeat bid in the G1 Dardo Rocha.