Debut and victory for Tuscan Gold in Venezuela, with Gustavo Calvente

With a strong campaign as a juvenile in the United States, he was acquired by Los Samanes at Keeneland and has now begun to generate high expectations at La Rinconada

By Juan Carlos Feijóo González (Hipismo,net)

The expectations surrounding the debut of Tuscan Gold at La Rinconada Racecourse quickly transformed into a resounding reality, confirming that the class the son of Medaglia d'Oro displayed on the demanding circuits of the United States remains intact. Under the guidance of Argentine jockey Gustavo Calvente, the representative of Haras Los Samanes Polo & Racing delivered a true masterclass in superiority, undeviatingly dominating a field that could do little against the display of a runner who seems destined to be the great benchmark of the 2026 stakes season here.

The development of the engagement showed a somewhat troubled start for the trainee of Ricardo D'Angelo, who after a slow beginning was relegated to sixth position while First Time (King Seraf), Luigino (Champlain), and The Last Dance (Manchester) vied for the lead in the initial stretches of the veterinary turn. With comfortable fractions of 26s4/5, the group remained compact, but the composure of Gustavo Calvente was key in waiting for the right moment, keeping the five-year-old near the fire without panicking over the initial disadvantage.

It was on the backstretch where the picture began to clear, with the gray Luigino taking control of the action while Tuscan Gold closed the gap on the outside flank. Upon crossing the 800-meter mark in 50s1/5, the maternal grandson of Curlin was already positioned in third place, stalking the leaders with an action that foreshadowed the outcome. As they entered the final turn, the North American-bred bay took initiative on his own and launched a bid for Luigino and First Time, who were still trying to sustain the race rhythm head-to-head.

The resolution of the race was a monologue of power; after clocking 1m14s4/5 for the 1200 meters, Tuscan Goldstraightened his course toward the final homestretch already in absolute control of the situation.

With 300 meters left to the wire, Calvente only had to hand-ride his mount, who began to pull away from the rest with astonishing ease until crossing the finish line with more than eleven lengths of advantage over Luigino. Further back, First Time completed the trifecta, ahead of Arcano (El Cubita), The Last Dance, Rio Unare (Gold Dollar), and Yasiel(Roger Rocket), who closed out the field following the winner's exhibition.

This victory not only marks a triumphant return for a horse that finished third in the 2024 Louisiana Derby (G2) and fourth in the Preakness Stakes (G1), but also establishes an ambitious roadmap before his definitive retirement to stud.

Under the care of Ricardo D'Angelo, the future of Tuscan Gold points toward the major prizes on the local calendar, where he will seek to enhance his resume before taking his reserved place in the Los Samanes stallion shed, consolidating himself as a top-tier genetic reinforcement for regional racing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3MHptss0GA