El Ernesto unleashed a devastating late rally to capture the Clásico 25 de Mayo
- Turf Diario
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The son of Señor Candy came from far back, unleashed a powerful stretch rally, and swept past Don Zahir to secure the tenth—and most important—victory of his career
LA PLATA.- The outstanding form of El Ernesto carried him Tuesday to the most important victory of his career over the local track.
Fresh off a runner-up effort behind champion Colifato Novo (Lenovo) in the Clásico Southern Halo (G2) over the San Isidro turf, the son of Señor Candy delivered a completely dominant performance in the Clásico 25 de Mayo de 1810 (G2-1600m, fast dirt), one of the most prestigious races on the annual La Plata calendar.
Unleashing a devastating late rally, the representative of Stud El Tata Viejo II, from Neuquén, swept past his rivals in the stretch and left Don Zahir (Daddy Long Legs) far behind after a genuinely fast-paced race—despite the television broadcast failing to display the fractions.
With Kevin Méndez aboard, El Ernesto remained well back early while favorite Campo Verde (Strategos) set the pace under pressure from Don Zahir.
Advancing wide around the turn, he steadily improved position and entered the stretch perfectly poised to strike.
He quickly reeled in Don Zahir, who had already disposed of the leader, before blowing past him and drawing clear to score by four lengths at the wire.
Another five lengths behind, Llebrenc (Forge) ran well to finish third, while Campo Verde faded to sixth and Storm Sound (Hi Happy), another leading contender, checked in only eighth, raising serious concerns after such a disappointing effort.
The final time was 1:39.07.
Trainer Víctor Villanueva saddles the bay bred by Haras La Pasión, who now boasts 10 career victories, three of them at stakes level after previously capturing the Orange (L) and the Carlos Spegazzini.
To close, however, there must also be mention of the disgraceful purse offered by Hipódromo de La Plata for one of its biggest races of the season: 5,280,000 pesos to the winner, a figure that falls below four million after deductions.
The amount was actually lower than what Bendita Suerte (Seahenge) earned a short while later for breaking her maiden as a 2-year-old over 1400 meters.
What is La Plata doing with the reparations fund? Where is the money that legally belongs to racing? And where are the more than 200 existing associations supposedly defending the rights of owners and professionals?
Embarrassing.
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