Amor de Contramano Shines in the Montevideo and Looks Like One to Watch Closely

The Las Canarias colt delivered a dazzling performance to earn the biggest win of his young career, stopping the clock just fractions off the track record

Amor de Contramano Was an Absolute Running Machine / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Roshita delivered a spectacular performance in the Gran Premio Jorge de Atucha (G1), but what Amor de Contramano did just a short while later in the Gran Premio Montevideo (1500m, dirt) was simply out of this world.

There’s no risk of overstatement here—pick any adjective you like, dear reader, and it would still fall short. And no, it can’t be said “he beat nobody,” because the gray colt turned the race into a one-horse show, cruising gate to wire with a long, fluid stride, drawing off by 10 lengths and stopping the clock in 1:26.75—just a whisker off the track record and nearly two full seconds faster than Roshita had run earlier in the day.

Expectations were high from the team led by Juan Saldivia, with William Pereyra once again in the irons, and the response was nothing short of sensational. It didn’t matter who lined up against him—the result was a monologue. Amor de Contramano broke like a rocket and never looked back, carving out splits of :22.69 and 1:08.77 (no 800-meter split was posted), before finishing up with complete ease and overwhelming authority.

He hit the wire 10 lengths clear of Liberto (Hurricane Cat), who once again turned in a solid performance after a respectable showing on turf in the Clásico Chevalier (G2). Alado Frank (Gidu), the heavy favorite, came home a distant third, another 8 lengths back, failing to deliver on expectations.

Racing for Stud Las Canarias in partnership with Stud Rubio B., Amor de Contramano was bred in collaboration by Haras La Pasión and Haras Ojos Claros, a team that’s already enjoyed its share of major wins together. His victory capped a stratospheric Group 1 double for first-crop sire Gouverneur Morris (Constitution), whose early success is bringing joy—and plenty of dreams—to his entire syndicate.

From a pedigree standpoint, Amor de Contramano descends from one of the foundation female lines inherited by La Pasión when it set up at La Madrugada. His dam, Anelada (Stormy Atlantic), is a half-sister to champion Anaerobio(Catcher In the Rye)—also a talented runner in Dubai—and to Albanesi (Violence). His third dam, the outstanding Aplanatín (Cautín), also produced G2 winner Minallón (Flag Down), making this colt’s family one rich in black-type performers and class.