El Mejor Recuerdo, a horse to treasure forever
At 7 years old, the native of Rosario once again displayed his immense heart to defeat Rugiente and Despacito in the Clásico Pablo G. Falero. Marking his 18th career victory, he finally captured one of the signature titles that had previously eluded him after two frustrating attempts
El Mejor Recuerdo does not race against age. He races as if time does not exist. At 7 years old, he retains the same eagerness, the same sound health, and that immense courage that transformed him into one of the bedrock icons of Argentine sprinting. On Monday, he proved it once more at Palermo, capturing the Clásico Pablo Gustavo Falero(1200 m, dirt) to elevate his victory total to an extraordinary 18.
This was the race missing from his mantle. He had finished fourth in 2023, and in the previous edition, current G1 winner El Epecuén (Il Campione) held him off by just half a length. But El Mejor Recuerdo returned once again, determined to claim what had previously eluded him. The third time proved to be the charm.
The Haras Don Julián representative needed to do nothing out of the ordinary. It was enough to simply be himself: travel in a ideal stalking position, respond the moment William Pereyra asked for his run, and pour his heart onto the track when Rugiente (Il Campione) sought to test him. In that moment, that admirable competitor reemerged—a horse that never holds back and, even after so many road trips and grueling battles, maintains his win drive completely intact.
The battle for second was equally worthy of the occasion. Rugiente managed to hold the place spot by just a neck over the veteran Despacito (Sabayón), who at 9 years old turned in another marvelous effort. The winner covered the distance in 1m11s26/100, with the board completed by Huracán Risk (Security Risk), Amiguito Don José (Todo Un Amiguito), and Bienhechor (Hurricane Cat).
The top of the order assembled three exemplary thoroughbreds. El Mejor Recuerdo reached 18 wins; Rugiente, also a son of Il Campione, has won 10 times and has spent several seasons anchored among the premier turn-sprinting specialists; and Despacito, owner of 19 victories, continues to travel in from Santa Rosa to deliver thrilling, age-defying performances. Together, they forged a finish that transcended mere sporting outcome. It was a celebration of longevity, class, and that rare ability possessed by select racehorses to extend their careers without sacrificing an ounce of enthusiasm or quality.
Behind El Mejor Recuerdo stands the masterclass conditioning of Daniel Cima. Training him out of Rosario, keeping him sound across so many campaigns, picking the right spots, and getting him to deliver time and again at Palermo, San Isidro, La Plata, and Hipódromo Independencia is a feat worthy of the highest praise. In an era where racing careers are increasingly fleeting, Cima has guided his horse across seasons, distances, and tracks while keeping him perpetually among the elite.
Bred by Haras El Paraíso, El Mejor Recuerdo had already reached top-flight glory in the Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires (G1), alongside titles in the Clásico Ciudad de La Plata (G2) and a lengthy roster of major stakes. He arrived this time backed by recent victories in the Clásico Día de la Bandera and the Clásico General San Martín in Rosario, proving that age is merely a number when class, soundness, and courage are in abundance.
El Mejor Recuerdo, Rugiente, and Despacito are the horses every owner dreams of having. The ones that run, return, travel, face the toughest competition without exception, and never fail to lay it all on the line. In the Falero, the ultimate victory belonged to the Rosario hero, but the applause belonged to all three. Campaigns of this caliber are a source of pride for their connections and a treasure for the sport.
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