Embrace It and Butterfing: Two Blue-Blooded Winners That Made Their Presence Felt
- Turf Diario
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The sister to champion Expressive Halo and the maternal half-brother to G1 winner Cima de Areco impressed in the Artigas and Penna Stakes, confirming that class runs deep in their bloodlines
The key to winning Saturday’s feature races over the main track at Palermo appeared to be a stellar pedigree.
In the Especial Juan P. Artigas and the Especial Julio F. Penna—both contested over 1500 meters—Embrace It (f, 2, Daddy Long Legs–Embrace Moi, by Ride the Rails) and Butterfing (c, 2, Angiolo–Candy Milk, by Candy Ride) delivered standout performances, proving that class runs in the family.
Making a striking debut for Haras Abolengo, Embrace It—a half-sister to all-time great Expressive Halo (Halo Sunshine)—showed poise and determination to reel in favored Mi Confesión (Suggestive Boy) in the stretch. Ridden by Kevin Banegas for trainer Nicolás Martín Ferro and Stud R.M., she was confidently handled throughout and wore down the pacesetter in the final 150 meters to score by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:35.01 over a fast track.
Mi Confesión, trained by Juan Saldivia and partnered by William Pereyra, looked a winner for much of the way, but the team didn’t have to wait long to rebound.
In the Penna, Butterfing, a striking gray and a half-brother to unbeaten 2024 G1 Gran Premio Enrique Acebal heroine Cima de Areco (Cima de Triomphe), lived up to his private gallops. Though green and somewhat unsettled early, he found his best stride down the center of the course. Once straightened away by Pereyra, the Haras San Lorenzo de Areco homebred leveled off beautifully and drew away by five commanding lengths from Friends are Friends(Cityscape), stopping the clock in 1:35.15.
Both Embrace It and Butterfing stamped themselves as rising stars on the Palermo scene and will likely be aimed toward upcoming juvenile fixtures, including the prestigious Estrellas series.
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