Honest Boy Scores on Return, Eyes 25 de Mayo Double
- Turf Diario
- 33 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Top Stayer Leads trainer Carlos D. Etchechoury 1-2-3 Sweep in G3 Porteño
Honest Boy delivered a statement performance in his return, asserting his class over his rivals in the Clásico Porteño (G3, 2400m, soft turf) and immediately reviving hopes of becoming just the fifth horse in history to win the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1) twice.
The son of Heliostatic, one of the top turf performers of his generation, had raced only once since his signature victory in the national feature, but his comeback left no doubts—he remains at the top of his game. He spearheaded a dominant 1-2-3 finish for trainer Carlos D. Etchechoury, defeating Equal Mostaza (Equal Stripes) and Pecado Original (Global Hunter) with authority.
Not imposing physically but with immense determination, Honest Boy found the perfect partner in Eduardo Ortega Pavón, who bided his time before asking for his run along the rail in the stretch—never an easy path.
As Equal Mostaza swept into contention down the center of the track and briefly took command, the Paraguayan rider made a decisive move, angling outside of Full Keynote (Full Mast). Once Honest Boy hit full stride, the result was inevitable. He surged clear in the final furlong, displaying the sustained finishing power that defines top-class stayers.
He crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front of Equal Mostaza, who was returning from the Pellegrini and turned in one of his best efforts, also stamping himself as a major contender for the 25 de Mayo. Another 1 1/2 lengths back, Pecado Original completed the trifecta.
Full Keynote, making his return from suspension, finished fourth, four lengths behind the winner in a respectable effort that puts him back into the conversation, while the rest of the field was well beaten, including El Encinal (Il Campione), who appears to face a tough road back to top-level form.
The final time of 2:32.03 added further merit to the performance, as Honest Boy provided yet another major success for the partnership of Stud Haras El Angel de Venecia and breeder Haras Santa María de Araras, whose past achievements include champion Village King (Campanologist).
With this return, Honest Boy not only confirmed his quality—he reignited the dream of another major triumph.
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