Comandante Rapha returned to winning ways at Maroñas and took home the Clásico Romántico

With José da Silva in the irons, he exacted revenge on Ramirito, dominating him wire-to-wire by 5 1/4 lengths

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay—Comandante Rapha had enjoyed a formidable start to the season, winning the Gran Premio Maroñas (G2) on January 6 and following up in the Clásico Perú (L). however, he was unable to maintain that blistering pace. he unplaced in the José Martinelli Gómez (L), misstepped in the Gran Premio Reapertura de Las Piedras, and finished second in the Clásico Reapertura Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas (L).

in that last contest, it was Ramirito (Trinniberg) who had left him behind, but this Sunday Comandante Rapha exacted clear revenge by comprehensively defeating him in the Clásico Romántico (L—1,100 m, dirt), the feature event of the card at Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas, reclaiming his position at the summit of the sprint division.

with José da Silva in the irons, the son of Comandante Dodge came out determined to dictate terms, though in the opening strides Ramirito applied early pressure. as they rounded the home turn, the eventual winner began to draw away from the favorite, exerting total dominance down the stretch. the wire found him 5 1/4 lengths clear of Ramirito, who in turn kept Leopard (Put It Back), the only other runner in the field, another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. the winning time was 1m04s02/100 following fractions of 22s57/100 and 46s20/100.

"his defining trait is that he loves to be right there, fighting for the lead or showing the way. in his previous start I didn't break him as aggressively, but this time I wanted to make sure he came out running," his jockey explained. he added: "he was coming back to form, racing like his true self again. honestly, this victory made me very happy and I hope he can keep going down this path."

saddled by Jorge Rey, the grandson of Put It Back—bred by Coudelaria Familia Monteiro in Brazil and racing for Stud Haras Bagé do Sul—earned his eighth victory from 16 starts, and his third at the stakes level.

earlier in the card, during the second race, three-year-olds and up squared off in the Handicap Especial Panamá over 2,000 meters on yielding turf. there, it was all Qué Guapo (Sultaodecascadura and China Guapa, by Capitano Corelli), who made light work of the opposition to score by 10 lengths over Joy From Eden (Camelot Kitten) in 2m04s76/100. Edinson Rodríguez guided the Williams Mattos trainee, who sports the colors of Stud Soy de Caraguatá and was bred by Don Juca.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubwPhMNCJos