El Mejor Recuerdo Takes Giant Leap to Defeat Lagoa Azul and Three-Time Champion Labrado

Dropping back from one-turn sprints, El Mejor Recuerdo collared the mare right at the wire to capture the Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires (G1)

Eduardo Ortega Pavón celebrates aboard El Mejor Recuerdo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Switching from one-turn sprints to a straightaway dash is one of the most challenging transitions for a racehorse. Everything changes—not just the absence of a turn. The pace, the visual markers, and the relentless stretch run often prove too much for many.

But for El Mejor Recuerdo, the Rosario-bred colt, the adventure paid off in the best possible way as he gamely prevailed in Sunday’s G1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires over 1000 meters, capping a thrilling Gran Premio República Argentina program at a packed and vibrant Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo.

Trained with a veteran’s touch by Daniel “Pucho” Cima, the Haras Don Julián runner delivered a stinging late punch to deny Lagoa Azul (by Lenovo) in the shadow of the wire, snatching victory away in the final strides. Favored Labrado(Le Blues), a three-time G1 winner, lacked his usual kick after a layoff and had to settle for third. The margins were a dramatic half-neck and two lengths.

A critical piece of the puzzle was Eduardo Ortega Pavón, who executed the perfect ride. Breaking sharply, he steered El Mejor Recuerdo toward the outer part of the track and made sure his mount was never too far off the pace, keeping him engaged with strong urging from the outset.

The game plan was clear: take full advantage of the closing stages, where many pure sprinters begin to falter. Unlike his rivals, El Mejor Recuerdo—used to longer distances—was just finding his best stride. Still, there was the risk that the early pressure might sap his finishing power.

But the stars aligned. From the 200-meter pole home, Ortega Pavón asked for everything, and the 527-kilo dark bay delivered, outfinishing Lagoa Azul, who had battled up front with Eleven Mile (Il Campione), another filly in the field. The final time of :55.15, on a track not particularly fast over the kilometer, underscored the effort.

Bred by Haras El Paraíso, El Mejor Recuerdo now finds himself at the very top of the straight-course sprint division, having already proven his worth around a turn. With victories over the division’s best—Lagoa Azul and Labrado—a compelling rematch now looms. And it promises to be a good one. A very good one.