Hit It a Bou takes a leap in class and sets sights on the Ciudad de La Plata
The son of Hit It a Bomb made a winning black-type debut with a 4-length victory in the Clásico España (L) on a heavy track; Walter Aguirre rode him with precision as the bay stallion confirmed his exceptional affinity for the La Plata strip
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LA PLATA.— Hit It a Bou went from being a solid handicap performer to establishing himself as one of the names to watch among sprinters. His authoritative victory in the Clásico España (L-1200m), held this Tuesday at the Hipódromo de La Plata, was by far the finest performance of his career and secured his passage to the Gran Premio Ciudad de La Plata (G2), the division's primary objective of the season.
The jump in class did not seem to affect him in the slightest. In his black-type debut, set over a heavy and particularly demanding surface, the son of Hit It a Bomb resolved the contest with surprising ease, leaving behind experienced rivals with proven credentials. It was a display of superiority suggesting he still has much more to offer.
The experience of Walter Aguirre proved fundamental in building the success. The jockey positioned the winner in third, sitting just off the early duel waged upfront between favored Valdobbio (Hit It a Bomb) and Bluclette Rim(Remote), without getting dragged into the initial battle. Ever attentive, he kept him within striking distance of the leaders, waiting for the right moment to make his move.
As they turned into the home stretch, Aguirre abandoned the inside rail, angled out three wide, and set his mount free. The response was immediate. Hit It a Bou accelerated decisively, took control early, and began putting daylight between himself and the field—a gap his opponents were powerless to close. On the contrary, the closer he got to the wire, the more commanding his advantage became.
At the wire, it was 4 lengths over Masky (Mask), who finished as the runner-up, while Zevi Time (Annals of Time) secured third place, 2 lengths further back, holding off Vendaval Joy (Roman Joy) by half a neck. The latter, in turn, edged Bluclette Rim by the same margin to complete the top five.
The disappointing note of the race was Valdobbio, who came in backed by his recent victory in the Clásico Carlos Pellegrini and dispatched as the favorite. After actively contesting the early pace, he stopped abruptly and dropped back to finish last. It was an effort far below his form, leaving open the possibility of a physical setback or a clear inability to handle the track conditions.
For Hit It a Bou, however, the performance was pure confirmation. Saddled by Aldo Díaz, running for the colors of Stud M4 Soles, and bred by Haras Firmamento, he elevated his record to 6 wins from 13 starts, maintaining a remarkable affinity for the Bosque, where he has won 4 of his 6 appearances.
La Plata seems tailored to his strengths. He had already showcased his talent there by taking the Handicap Día del Veterinario and the Handicap Haras San Benito, both over 1200 meters—the distance at which he has recorded 4 of his 6 wins. Nonetheless, his latest outing represented a massive step forward, both in terms of the caliber of the opposition and the authority of his performance.
The Ciudad de La Plata on November 19 now looms as his next major challenge, presenting a stiffer test and the opportunity to square off against the top sprint specialists around the turn. But after such a display, Hit It a Bou has earned the right to target it with high expectations.
In an ever-competitive division, a new contender has emerged. And he did so in the best possible manner: winning convincingly and giving the impression that his ceiling is still far off.
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