Amonet proved too strong for Catys Queen and captured the Clásico Empiric

The Mask filly, who had broken her maiden impressively last time out, drew off to defeat the heavy favorite by three lengths

Amonet took command early and drew off convincingly / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Promising filly Amonet took a significant step forward on Sunday, capturing the Clásico Empiric (1400m, turf, good) —the first of two feature races on the San Isidro program— with authority.

Runner-up in an eye-catching debut, the daughter of Mask quickly made amends next time out with an impressive maiden victory on dirt. Trying turf for the first time and facing tougher company, she confirmed all that early promise, scoring a decisive win over the heavily favored Catys Queen (Lizard Island).

It was Catys Queen who set the pace from the break, with Amonet tracking her closely under Kevin Banegas, who kept her tucked in and waiting for the stretch to unleash her best. Once straightened for home, the chestnut filly from Stud Los Halcones shifted to the center of the track and accelerated powerfully, quickly taking command and opening up daylight.

By the 400-meter mark she had the lead and began to draw away, ultimately crossing the wire three lengths clear in 1:23.68, after fractions of 24.16, 47.70, and 1:11.54 (with false rails in place). Flor de Laurel (Il Campione) finished third without threatening, ahead of Bachata Queen (Storm Embrujado), who completed the superfecta.

Bred by Haras La Valkiria, Amonet is the second foal out of Vivacita (Heliostatic), a stakes winner of the Clásico Doria, and a half-sister to Fuego Frío (Mask), a recent three-time winner at age four.

With a short but efficient career so far, Amonet continues to move forward impressively and is shaping up as a filly to watch in Argentina’s middle-distance division. There’s still plenty of road ahead—but she has the class and power to go a long way.