Back Home in Argentina, El Encinal Gears Up for Racing Return
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After an Unsuccessful U.S. Campaign, Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1) Winner El Encinal Prepares for His Comeback Under Guillermo Frenkel Santillán
By Diego H. Mitagstein
That moment of glory—snatching victory right at the wire in the 2023 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1) over the outstanding filly No Fear (Agnes Gold)—feels far more distant than the calendar suggests. El Encinal has not raced in Argentina since that day, having embarked on a bold adventure to the United States to contest the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar with a suitcase full of dreams.
Things didn’t go as planned for the chestnut north of the equator. He reappeared in the Del Mar Handicap (G2), finishing seventh, then trailed home in both the California Crown John Henry Turf Championship (G2) and the Turf itself. A final attempt came this past February, but a ninth-place finish in an allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita Park sealed his fate.
The partners of Stud Doña Pancha drew their conclusions and wasted no time in deciding: it was time to come home and give him a fresh start. The son of Il Campione returned to Argentina three months ago and is now stepping up his work at the barn of Guillermo Frenkel Santillán, the trainer who guided him to glory. There’s no specific target yet—but that could change soon.
“He didn’t do well over there,” said Juan Carlos Echeverz, one of his owners and the man behind Doña Pancha, whose silks also enjoyed unforgettable U.S. moments thanks to the beloved Calidoscopio (Luhuk), winner of the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (G2). “He weighed only 422 kilos when he arrived; the training must have been too demanding. We advised them to go easier, but the methods are different. He’s looking great now, back up to around 450 kilos, and just had his second breeze this Tuesday.”
Trainer ‘Bebe’ Frenkel elaborated on the horse’s current phase: “He’s adjusting to the seasonal change—coming out of a full summer in July over there into a tough winter here. He’s only now shedding his coat; his metabolism needs to adapt again to spring and summer conditions.”
He added: “We don’t have a set date for his return because the horse will tell us when he’s ready. The idea is to aim for a softer spot, a conditional race—something he never got the chance to do in the U.S., where he had to face extremely tough company right away, from the Del Mar Handicap to the Breeders’ Cup. What’s done is done; now we just want to rebuild him completely and start fresh.”
“I wouldn’t say the Pellegrini is an immediate goal, though nothing’s impossible. What matters most is that he’s doing well—he’s happy, galloping, stretching out, and starting some breezes. Hopefully by November we’ll have a better idea of where he’s at. For now, we’re just letting El Encinal show us the way,” Frenkel concluded.
Several Argentine horses have returned from U.S. campaigns to succeed back home. In recent years, perhaps the most symbolic example was Refinado Tom (Shy Tom), the 1996 Triple Crown hero from La Biznaga, who added the Gran Premio Estrellas Classic (G1) to his résumé upon his return.
So it’s fair to dream that El Encinal, now back on familiar ground, might soon write another glorious chapter of his own.
