Carmensita achieved her first victory in the United States
The daughter of Treasure Beach trained by Horacio de Paz took Sunday's ninth race at Belmont Park, an allowance test over 1,800 meters on the turf
ELMONT, New York (Special for Turf Diario).— The change of scenery from Saratoga to Belmont Park brought the best possible news for Carmensita. After three starts at the Spa, the Argentine-bred filly notched her first victory in the United States on Sunday, dominating the ninth race with authority and opening up an intriguing outlook for what lies ahead.
The daughter of Treasure Beach and Carmelinda, bred by Haras Abolengo, scored in a $105,000 allowance contest contested over 1,800 meters on the inner turf. It was a convincing display, marked by the explosive manner in which she rallied from the back of the field to command early in the stretch, combined with the professionalism with which she held her advantage clear to the wire.
Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Carmensita bided her time near the tail of the field through the opening stages, waiting for the right moment to launch her late bid. The response was immediate upon turning for home, where she sliced into the margin and quickly turned the race in her favor. Once in front, she kept on strongly to hit the wire a length clear of runner-up Nonconsecutivetrms (Not This Time).
Trained by Horacio de Paz for Club Sixty Five Racing, the Argentine filly delivered the breakthrough victory she had been searching for since her arrival in North America, following a private transaction orchestrated by Ignacio Correas, Benjamín Correas, and Carlos Cambas. Her initial outings had shown encouraging flashes, though they still required validation in the winner’s circle—a milestone that now paints her ongoing adaptation in a much brighter light.
Prior to Sunday, her entire U.S. campaign had unfolded at Saratoga. There, she collected a pair of solid placings in allowance company while also tackling a far sterner test in the Belmont Oaks Stakes (G1), where she failed to threaten. That foray into top-level company remained the toughest hurdle of an adjustment period that finally aligned with the high-class credentials she established back in Argentina.
Indeed, Carmensita had demonstrated plenty of quality prior to export. A maiden winner at San Isidro, she subsequently finished third in the Clásico Federico de Alvear (G2) and second in last season’s Gran Premio Enrique Acebal (G1)—two key benchmarks in the turf filly division. That proven stamina foundation over long distances provided ample reason to believe she could carve out a spot in North America’s competitive turf division.
The victory at Belmont Park pushed her career earnings to the brink of $100,000 and, above all, re-exposed the back-class that prompted her transfer in the first place. The manner of her victory—closing from off the tempo and taking command well inside the final furlong—left a highly favorable impression for a filly whose ideal scope looks tailored for 1,800 meters and beyond on the grass.
Her future trajectory will bear watching as she steps back up in class. For now, the victory represents concrete progress following her initial building blocks and that trial-by-fire in the Belmont Oaks. Armed with her Argentine stakes form and a first U.S. win under her belt, Carmensita gives plenty of reason to anticipate an exciting 2027 campaign. The optimism now has a North American win to stand on.
