Ilustrado put on a show over the dirt mile and continues to improve in his form

In his first stakes-level attempt, the Stud Los Betos runner won the Handicap Val D’Or by 7 lengths

lustrado and a well-deserved pat from his jockey after a remarkable performance / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

For the team led by Gustavo Scarpello and the connections of Stud Los Betos, the spectacular victory achieved by Ilustrado on Wednesday in the Handicap Val D’Or (1600m, fast dirt) was anything but ordinary. A talented horse whose physical issues delayed his rise in class, he is finally responding to the confidence his connections have had in him since day one.

Making his first start at the stakes level, the chestnut was unstoppable at the Hipódromo de San Isidro, replicating the form he showed in Palermo, where he had returned from nearly eight months on the sidelines to run a strong second.

Stretching out to a mile for the first time, the son of Cosmic Trigger took full advantage of his light impost of 53 kilos, gaining a massive edge over his rivals. In a race loaded with speed, none could keep up with him.

Only early on did the topweight Atomic Trigger (Cosmic Trigger, 62kg) attempt to apply pressure, but before reaching the turn, apprentice Martín Montoya sent the winner to the front—and the race was over from there.

He reached the stretch with a clear lead and only widened it, cruising home with ease to stop the clock 7 lengths ahead of Valle Barún (Vástago Salvaje, 56.5kg), who held second by a neck over Western Orpen (Orpen, 57kg). Atomic Trigger, the heavy favorite, checked in fifth, 11 3/4 lengths back under the weight. To cap it off, Ilustrado recorded a sharp final time of 1:34.29, after steady fractions of :24.40, :46.60, and 1:09.99.

It was the fourth victory for Ilustrado, bred by Haras Abolengo and out of Iluminativa (Acceptable), who had already produced G3 winner Indec (Halo Sunshine) and G1-placed Iluminame (Halo Sunshine).

Ilustrado continues to grow, looks healthy, and if he remains on this trajectory, he appears ready to join the discussion in major middle-distance races.