Frateli La Vita Eyes Repeat Score in Clásico Club Hípico de Santiago

The son of Seeking the Dia heads the early betting for the Clásico Club Hípico de Santiago, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Mile

Frateli La Vita Targets Back-to-Back Wins in Clásico Club Hípico de Santiago / JAIME CORTÉS P.

SANTIAGO DE CHILE, Chile (Special for Turf Diario).- Frateli La Vita (Seeking the Dia), a 4-year-old representing Stud Rey Santino Diez, will look to defend his crown against 13 rivals this Sunday in the G1 Clásico Club Hípico Falabella, contested over 2000 meters on the turf at Club Hípico de Santiago. The winner will earn an automatic berth, with entry fees and travel expenses covered, to the $2-million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.

The Challenge Series is a global qualifying program featuring 93 races across 15 countries. Each victory grants the winner an all-expenses-paid invitation to one of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships events, which this year will take place Oct. 31–Nov. 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in California.

Frateli La Vita scored a dramatic victory in the 2024 edition of the Falabella, storming home in the final 100 meters to defeat Quimera Ideal (Ivan Denisovich) by a half-length, with his longtime rival Medjool (Constitution) another length back in third.

Trained by Galindo Rojas, Frateli La Vita has finished first or second in all seven of his starts since that triumph, including wins in the G2 Copa de Oro María Luisa Solari last year and the Listed Haras de Chile over this same 2000-meter trip on March 28. In his latest outing, he was runner-up in the G1 Gran Premio Hipódromo Chile over 2200 meters on dirt. A six-time winner from 21 starts, he will break from post 3 with Gonzalo Ulloa aboard.

Once again, his main threat appears to be Medjool, flying the colors of Stud Mirador, who enters in career-best form having strung together six consecutive victories—three of them over Frateli La Vita at this same venue. Conditioned by Julio Orellana, the son of Constitution beat his rival by a nose in November’s G3 Primavera Herman Braun P. y Carolina Budge de B., by three lengths in the G3 La Copa in December, and by a neck in the G2 Verano Arturo Cousiño L. in February. Most recently, he cruised home by 6 1/2 lengths in the G2 Otoño Pedro García de la Huerta M. on April 25. He will start from gate 6 under Jorge González.

Another intriguing contender is Horco Molle (Good Samaritan), campaigned by Stud Jujuy and trained by Mario Rabajille. A stakes winner at three, he opened his career with three consecutive victories last year, including a dominant 4 1/2-length score in the G3 Cotejo de Potrillos. After a layoff, he returned in December to win the Listed Ignacio Urrutia de la Sotta and was fourth as the 5-2 favorite in the G1 El Derby at Valparaíso Sporting. In his latest effort, he ran third in a 2000-meter handicap on April 21. Javier Guajardo will be in the irons from post 9.

Also in the mix is 3-year-old Lonwhite (Mendelssohn), representing Stud Las Perdices and trained by Claudio Bernal. A three-time winner on turf, he turned heads last September with a 5 1/2-length romp in the G3 Preparación-Louis Cousiño over this same distance. He breaks from post 12 under Hugo Ochoa.

The field also features the top-class filly Cassis Violeta (Midshipman), a dual G1 winner and 2024 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly for Stud Doña Lili. Nicolás Ramírez will ride from post 10.

As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series benefits, the winner of the G1 Falabella will receive paid entry and travel allowance to contest the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), to be run at one mile on turf. To be eligible, the winning horse must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program prior to the pre-entry deadline of October 20.