El Encinal Returned to Winning Ways in Argentina as Curious Song Continues to Make Steady Progress

The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1) winner of 2023 scored over one mile, while the colt captured a gritty assignment over 2000 meters—both performances coming on the turf

El Encinal returned to the winner’s circle after more than two years / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Curious Song Delivers a Promising Victory at Hipódromo de San Isidro / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The penultimate card of the season at Hipódromo de San Isidro offered several notable talking points beyond Guadilu’s(Señor Candy) victory in the Handicap Jerry Honor.

At the allowance level, the first major highlight came courtesy of the colt Curious Song (Sixties Song), who confirmed his upside with a polished success over 2000 meters in the Premio Durmia, restricted to winners of one. Shortly thereafter, the day also marked a return to the winner’s circle on home soil for El Encinal (Il Campione), the 2023 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini hero, making just his second local start following a stint in the United States.

Partnered by Kevin Banegas and trained by Nicolás Martín Ferro, Curious Song had finished second on his seasonal reappearance and this time showed the full scope of his ability. A bit keen early, he gradually found his rhythm and turned for home with a powerful stride.

Banegas angled him toward the center of the course, waited patiently, and at the 350-meter mark set loose the Stud Disco Eterno representative. Curious Song quickly asserted, opened daylight, and hit the line three lengths clear of Peter Tosh(Fortify), another colt to keep firmly on the radar heading into the new season.

Bred by Haras Firmamento and among the first Argentine-bred foals by Mastercraftsman mares, the imposing bay—tipping the scales at a reported 522 kilos—continues to live up to his pedigree, stopping the clock in a sharp 1:58.67.

Attention then shifted to the Premio Sabrán de Mí (1600 meters, turf), for 5-year-olds with two or three wins, where El Encinal finally tasted victory again in Argentina after more than two years. Trained by Guillermo Frenkel Santillán, the Pellegrini winner had finished fifth on his local return after failing to fire in the U.S., but this time took a clear step forward—helped in no small part by circumstances.

After setting the pace from the break, Midnight Runner (Forge) drifted markedly in the stretch, surrendering valuable ground that ultimately cost him the race. El Encinal capitalized late to prevail by a neck, with Stormy Wind (Forge) another half-neck back in third, the trio stopping the clock in 1:33.60.

Looking ahead, the Clásico Botafogo (G3) may loom as a logical next target for El Encinal, who continues to work toward regaining peak condition and returning to the elite level that defined the early stages of his career.