Earth God Rediscovers His Power and Storms Home to Win the Gran Premio Palermo

The son of Cosmic Trigger out-finished El Éxito over the mile at the mile-track in Buenos Aires, thereby registering his third Group 1 victory — and ending a drought of more than a year without a win

Earth God and Gustavo Calvente teamed up for a brilliant victory / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The new partnership between jockey Gustavo Calvente and trainer Nicolás Martín Ferro enjoyed one of those victories worth celebrating at length Saturday at Palermo. Though disappointment would come later in the afternoon with Blue Caviar (Equal Stripes) in the Gran Premio Nacional (G1), nothing could dim the joy sparked by the brilliant performance of Earth God in the Gran Premio Palermo (G1).

In the mile on dirt—and after more than a year without the expected results—the son of Cosmic Trigger once again showed the power, determination, and class that had made him such a dangerous customer early in his career, and again in the second half of 2024 when he captured the Gran Premio San Isidro (G1) against older horses as a 3-year-old.

It hadn’t been an easy stretch. A few weeks ago, he had to be scratched from the San Isidro when attempting to defend his title after getting loose on the track during training. But this time, he righted the ship and looked every inch his old self, turning back El Éxito (Il Campione)—the division leader in Buenos Aires—by a half-length in a strong renewal of the Palermo mile, stopping the clock in 1:36.39 over a wet surface.

Ronda de Ases (Forge) set the early fractions before yielding in upper stretch, where El Éxito and Kopke (Hi Happy) ranged up to challenge while Calvente guided Earth God along the rail. Striking the front with 200 meters to go, the eventual winner edged clear before holding sway late. Descamisado (Cosmic Trigger) closed well for third, 1 1/2 lengths behind, two in front of the tiring favorite Kopke. The 3-year-old Liberto (Hurricane Cat) rounded out the superfecta.

Bred by Haras Abolengo and racing for Stud Grupo 4, Earth God collected his third career Group 1 trophy, adding to previous tallies in the San Isidro and the Gran Criterium (G1), along with a Group 3 placing in the Raúl y Raúl E. Chevalier (G1). Out of Earthshine (Pure Prize), and a full brother to stakes-winner Earth and Fire, the colt hails from one of the “E” branches of the famed Esnaola (Ringaro) family—responsible for Group 1 stars Sebi Halo, Halo Ola, and Snapy Halo, all by Southern Halo.

Now back to his best, Earth God conquered El Éxito on his home ground and will look to close out the season in style in December’s Gran Premio Anchorena (G1)—with eyes firmly set on the Champion Miler title.