Elenika rallied when all seemed lost for a victory that lifts her to another level

The Nicholas filly is unbeaten on the Palermo turf and will now look to add the República Oriental del Uruguay (G3)

Elenika came back when defeat seemed inevitable / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Elenika won the kind of race that, nine times out of ten, gets away. All but defeated in the stretch of Friday’s Clásico República Oriental del Uruguay (G3-1400m, turf) at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, the daughter of Winning Prize summoned courage, grit, and quality to bend fate and produce a spectacular victory.

Running at the level that crowned her the champion 2-year-old of the season at La Plata, she shone for the first time away from that circuit—and did so in emphatic fashion—with an inspired Juan Cruz Rivarola aboard. It capped a big week for the rider, who had already celebrated on Wednesday at San Isidro with Huracán Risk (Security Risk) in the Clásico Latency (L).

Game from the outset, Elenika took the race to Causeway Girl (Dabster), who was conceding weight under the scale but brought greater experience to the table.

Turning for home, the outcome appeared settled. For a moment, Elenika even looked fourth as Stormy Summer(Nicholas) sliced through along the inside to strike the front and open up a clear advantage.

But Rivarola went to work, Elenika answered the call, and—inside the final furlong—she clawed her way back to the lead. From there she even had time to edge clear, finishing 1 length in front of the favorite, who could not shake her off. Causeway Girl completed the trifecta 2 lengths back. The final time was 1:23.08.

Bred in Córdoba by Haras La Fortaleza and racing in the colors of Stud Hilda Juana, Elenika is trained by veteran Esteban Brown, who has brought her back to peak form and made the strategic call to seek opportunity on the turf.

It was the seventh win from 12 starts for the granddaughter of Editor’s Note, and her fifth stakes victory, having already captured the Raúl Aristegui (G2), Miguel Luis Morales (G2), Polla de Potrancas (G2), and Andrés S. Torres (G3), while placing in several other stakes. Her career earnings now exceed 57 million pesos, underscoring a campaign that continues to climb to new heights.