Gran Compañero Gets the Job Done in Handicap Manantial

The South Kissing colt delivered as expected, holding off a game Maldito Seas by three-quarters of a length to notch his third victory at this level

Gran Compañero dug in gamely down the lane to seal the deal/ JUAN I. BOZZELLO

In the lead-up to Friday’s Handicap Manantial—a 1000-meter dash over a wet main track and one of the two standout events on the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo card—Gran Compañero stood out as a deserving favorite.

Carrying a comfortable 57.5 kilos, boasting experience, and backed by a solid résumé, the La Pampa representative lived up to the hype when it mattered most, returning to the winner’s circle and capturing his third victory at this level in what has been a model of consistency.

With Brian Enrique aboard, the son of South Kissing broke sharply with intent, but Francisco Leandro had a different script in mind, gunning favored Maldito Seas (Compasivo Cat, 53 kg) to the lead, wisely steering him toward the outside part of the course—the preferred path in straight-course races.

For a while, it looked like the Brazilian rider’s strategy would pay off, but when Enrique asked his mount for more, Gran Compañero responded with precision. He gradually reeled in his rival, edged ahead, and—despite Maldito Seas digging in with heart—held on determinedly to win by three-quarters of a length.

Golden Jet (Bodemeister, 53.5 kg) finished a distant third, four lengths behind the top pair, while the heavily weighted Lemoro (Le Blues, 62 kg) couldn’t keep pace and faded to trail the field—a clear indication that such an impost leaves him with few chances at this level.

Adding further merit to the win, Gran Compañero stopped the clock in a sharp 54.76, just 0.07 seconds slower than Eleven Mile’s performance in the Handicap Con Brio run just half an hour earlier.

Bred by María F. Battaglia and trained by Fernando Ariel Garcés in La Pampa, the light gold gelding capped a stellar afternoon for his connections. Earlier in the day, La Pampeana, Garcés, and Enrique had teamed up to win the 2-year-old dash Premio Acertijo with the promising colt Exclamación Pass (Distinctiv Passion).