General Viamonte: Labrado, because, simply, that is how champions are

The star of the straight returned to his best and shined on the San Isidro turf, bringing his total to 15 victories, 14 of them in stakes races

Labrado raced closer and, in the final stages, he was impossible to contain / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Champions are like that. For them, there are no rules, rivals, or passage of time that matter. When the soul reaches the track, beating them becomes impossible. Labrado had left long faces in December when he finished unplaced in the Gran Premio Félix de Alzaga Unzué (G1), but this Saturday at San Isidro, he exchanged sad grimaces for smiles, returning to his best in the Clásico General Viamonte (G3-1000 m, normal turf). In true champion fashion.

The son of Le Blues is making history in the straight, as the only horse to hold the title of Champion Sprinter three times. And, even approaching 7 years of age, he is far from losing his relevance; on the contrary, he is firmly aiming again at the major races of the division, those in which he has been a central protagonist for several seasons now.

With Wilson Moreyra in his reins, the bay from Stud Don Ariel did not need impactful late surges this time. Modernizing his ways, he was always in the mix, letting the two-year-old Salando Las Heridas (Strategos) set a firm pace, passing the initial 400 meters in 22s30/100 and the 800 in a furious 43s42/100.

That was as far as the leader's resistance went, as he could do nothing to contain the advance of Labrado, who took command and began to pull away until establishing a 2-length advantage at the wire.

Valiant, Salando Las Heridas resisted and finished second, with only half a neck difference over Contra Pronóstico(Daddy Long Legs). Behind them, a low-flying Hiran (Santillano) was fourth, with Antiguo Secreto (Angiolo) completing the scoreboard. The final time was 55s12/100.

Conditioned by Angel Natividad Bonetto, for Labrado, the staunch favorite in the betting, it was the fifteenth victory of his magnificent career, his fourteenth at the stakes level, leaving him on the verge of 150,000,000 pesos in earnings. Vigorous, full, and sound, the star signaled that he will fight once again, anxiously awaiting a new clash with Le Cornette(Emmanuel), El Epecuen (Il Campione), and El Fortín (Il Campione), the other leaders of the sprinter division these days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2aP_DDcDUY