Don Champagne Delivers the Sweetest Toast of His Career—Right on Time
- Turf Diario
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With Look Portal Scratched, San Benito’s Runner Captures the G3 Clásico OSAF and Now Sets His Sights on the Dardo Rocha
LA PLATA.- With Look Portal (Portal del Alto) absent—the top older stayer at El Bosque—the path was cleared for new ambitions in the Clásico Organización Sudamericana de Fomento del Pura Sangre de Carrera (G3–2200m, dirt), the feature of Tuesday’s graded triple and the final major prep before the Gran Premio Dardo Rocha (G1).
In a thrilling, tightly contested finish, the six-year-old Don Champagne asserted himself in the final stages, earning the most significant victory of his career and positioning himself for the big day on November 19.
The race developed dynamically, with Cornwall (Remote) and Davalos (Hi Happy) setting a brisk opening half in 48.20. Jockey Iván Monasterolo had to make an early move with Don Champagne, who was asked for his effort well before the 1000-meter mark due to the leaders’ early acceleration.
Entering the stretch, four horses contested the finish, as Mannarino (Cosmic Trigger) joined the leaders, with Don Champagne moving wider to challenge. The battle was thrilling, with the Carlos D. Etchechoury trainee—presented by his son Juan Manuel—prevailing at the line.
Don Champagne scored by a half-length over Mannarino, with Davalos a head back in third, just ahead of Cornwall. The final time for 2200 meters was 2:19.20.
A son of Long Island Sound out of the G2-placed Doña Racha (Freud), Don Champagne is a maternal half-brother to Don Chajá (Seek Again), another stayer who excelled in distance races, winning the Clásicos Botagofo (G3) and Cocles (L). They hail from the female line of imported Airbound (Damascus), one of the foundation mares of the Basombrío breeding program.
