Clásico Blend: Don Rocky Handles the Slop with Authority

ith authority and grit, the homebred from Haras San Benito shone in the Clásico Blend (L), taking control from start to finish

Don Rocky showed real grit down the stretch when things got tough / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Under a downpour, Don Rocky delivered a brilliant victory in the Clásico Blend (L–1600m, muddy dirt), the Saturday feature at Palermo, on a card that began with a delay as jockeys and officials debated whether it was safe to race given the track conditions and a persistent thunderstorm that loomed over much of the afternoon.

Originally scheduled for the turf, the race was moved to the main track, where the son of Equal Stripes emerged as a dominant winner, going gate-to-wire and showing plenty of grit along the way.

Carrying scale weights, the homebred representing Stud-Haras San Benito did nothing but confirm the excellent form he’s been displaying, his performances improving with maturity. This marked his most important victory to date, following scores in the Especial Haras El Paraíso and the Handicap Parwiz, at La Plata and San Isidro, respectively.

Ridden by Iván Monasterolo, Don Rocky broke sharply and never relinquished the lead. First he repelled early pressure from the favorite Fiolo Boss (Holy Boss), and then, once in the stretch, dug in when El Gazpacho (Bodemeister) loomed boldly in the center of the track.

For a moment it looked as though the frontrunner might be in trouble, but Monasterolo got after him, and the bay colt responded in kind, pulling away late to win by a length. Another two lengths back, Fiolo Boss finished third, ahead of Le Club (Le Blues) and Twitch Hurricane (Hurricane Cat), who completed the frame. Final time: 1:38.50.

Trained by Carlos D. Etchechoury, Don Rocky is the first foal out of Joy Rosetta (Fortify), runner-up in the Clásico Bullrich (G2) and third in the Clásico Apertura (G2). She is a full sister to stakes winner Rohit Joy and G1-placed Joy Rose, from the same female line as brilliant sprinters like Forty Rosarino (Roar) and Fine Toss (Egg Toss), anchored by the powerful foundation built at Haras El Candil, the unforgettable breeding operation of the Seglín family, a once-prolific source of top-class talent, particularly in sprint races.