Ardiendo Ignites Big Dreams with Commanding Gran Criterium Victory

The son of Remote put on a show over the mile at San Isidro, repeating the winning formula of Stud San Isidoro, trainer Enrique Martín Ferro, and jockey Eduardo Ortega Pavón. What lies ahead promises to be even more exciting...

Jockey Eduardo Ortega Pavón kicked off his G1 double aboard Ardiendo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The winning combination of Stud San Isidoro, trainer Enrique Martín Ferro, and jockey Eduardo Ortega Pavón, aboard a homebred from Haras Las Retamas, once again produced a dominant performance. Just as they did with exported champion Dark Love (In the Dark) a couple of seasons ago, the trio shone on the biggest stage over the turf at San Isidro. This time, their star was Ardiendo, who delivered a brilliant display to capture the G1 Gran Premio Gran Criterium (1600m, soft turf)—the lone top-level test for 2-year-old colts at San Isidro this season.

A son of Remote -enjoying a fine moment at stud-, Ardiendo showed no signs of intimidation despite the elevated class. Fresh off a comfortable maiden-breaking victory in his third career start, he unleashed an effortless sweep down the stretch, putting his rivals to the sword in a final clocking of 1:40.28—a full one-hundredth of a second quicker than Charm (Strategos) had recorded moments earlier in the G1 Gran Premio de Potrancas.

It was a magical afternoon for Eduardo Ortega Pavón, who later added the G1 Clásico 25 de Mayo aboard Honest Boy(Heliostatic). In the Gran Criterium, the Paraguayan ace stayed within striking range of early leader Full Keynote (Full Mast), marking him closely throughout. As they straightened for home, Ortega Pavón delivered his cue, and by the 300-meter marker, Ardiendo had assumed command with authority.

From there, it was smooth sailing: Ardiendo extended his advantage to 3 ½ lengths over the promising Es Por Amor(Strategos), who had been stretched out from a sprint to the mile and changed trainers and colors in the process. In tight order behind, Drive Joy (Fortify), fresh off a victory in the G2 Clásico Chevalier, rallied from far back to finish third, just a half-length farther adrift. Rounding out the field in order were Full Keynote, The Great Wells (The Great Day), Tiempo de Estar (Strategos), and Alado Frank (Gidu).

Bred on the famous Albinia (Dynamix) female line—and a great-grandson of G1 heroine April Talk (Confidential Talk)—Ardiendo now looks toward the future with loftier targets. He’ll likely point to the G1 Estrellas Juvenile on the dirt at Palermo (where he already broke his maiden by daylight) before returning to the turf in pursuit of the G1 2000 Guineas. Whatever the path, this son of Remote has stamped himself as one to watch in the division.