Bichita de Luz Shocks the Field in Clásico Vale Dori Upset

Sent off at 45.25-1, Bichita de Luz, a daughter of Fragotero, sprang a major upset in Wednesday's feature, the Clásico Vale Dori, drawing off to defeat Victoria Bayern by 1 1/2 lengths

Bichita de Luz finished strongly to return to winning form with authority / HSI

SAN ISIDRO, Argentina—In a race that saw the two overwhelming favorites finish near the tail end of the field, it was Bichita de Luz who lit up the board with a shocking performance to capture Wednesday’s featured Clásico Vale Doriover 1200 meters on the main track at San Isidro.

Sent off at 45.25-1 after two subpar efforts, the gray daughter of Fragotero bounced back in style, rekindling the form that earned her the Clásico Luis Monteverde (L) at La Plata last December. With Lakka (Manipulator) and Truly Princess (Daddy Long Legs) never factoring late, the longshot surged up the rail in deep stretch to leave the field stunned.

After Bayonne (Puerto Escondido) and Lakka set a lively pace through early splits of :23.74 and :46.14, it was the former who took command turning for home and looked home free—until Bichita de Luz came storming through on the inside.

Under a skillful ride from apprentice Laureano Colasso, the filly charged past tiring rivals to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths over Victoria Bayern (Santillano), who rallied late to grab second by a neck over a game Bayonne. Final time was a sharp 1:10.22.

Trained at Palermo by Marcelo Degregorio for Caballeriza Mano Negra and bred by Haras El Mallín, Bichita de Luzis out of Una Bocha (Hurricane Cat), a juvenile winner at La Plata and a full sister to G3 winner Ultima Cuota, from the same female line as unbeaten stakes star Urbanizado (Slew Gin Fizz).

This was the fourth win from eight starts for Bichita de Luz, who will now aim to prove this wasn’t a one-off, either by repeating her Vale Dori heroics or returning to the high level she showed in the Monteverde.