Fiesta Porteña found the perfect race setup to return to her best form
- Turf Diario
- Nov 10
- 2 min read
The Santa Inés mare took full advantage of the strong pace set by Obra Clásica and Elvitas to come from off the pace and capture the Gran Premio Ricardo E. y Ezequiel M. Fernández Rodríguez (G3)
The fast tempo of the Clásico Carlos P. Rodríguez (G2–1600m, turf) played perfectly into the hands of Fiesta Porteña, who came charging from last in the stretch to score decisively and bounce back from her subpar showing in the Clásico Sibila (G2).
In Sunday’s feature at San Isidro, the daughter of Fortify gave Stud-Haras Santa Inés, trainer Enrique Martín Ferro, and jockey Martín Valle a repeat of the celebration they enjoyed a year ago with Nanabush (Il Campione), now based in the United States.
The race unfolded just as expected. With confirmed speedsters Obra Clásica (Suggestive Boy) and Elvitas (Cosmic Trigger) in the lineup, a hot early pace was guaranteed—and so it proved, with fractions of :23.50 and :45.82. Valle never panicked on the eventual winner, instead biding his time and angling wide entering the stretch, confident the uphill run would take its toll on the frontrunners.
Elvitas was the first to weaken and dropped back sharply, while Obra Clásica fought on gamely before yielding in the final furlong as Fiesta Porteña swept past. Finishing strongly, the bay mare prevailed by one length over Adi Shakti(Angiolo), who also closed well, with Obra Clásica another half-length back in third. Elenika (Winning Prize) finished fourth, two lengths behind, while Quita Rim (Remote), the 2024 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, failed to fire.
Out of Fiesta Sureña (Jump Start), and a half-sister to champion Fiesta Lady (Southern Halo) and G3 winner Fiesta Dorada (Jump Start), Fiesta Porteña has now won five of nine starts, including two Group 2 victories—the Omegaand now the Rodríguez.
Last year, Nanabush followed her Rodríguez win with a near-miss in the Gran Premio Anchorena (G1), denied only on the line by El Que Sabe (Il Campione). Could Fiesta Porteña be next to follow that path?
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