In a nail-biting finish, Guadilu got up in the final stride to secure victory

Rallying from the back of the pack, the Lagrange Stable’s mare outfinished Che Solita and Joy Traviesa to take the Handicap Wally

Racing wide, Guadilu registered her fourth—and most important—career victory / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Suspense lingered until the final stride in Wednesday’s Hándicap Wally, the feature on an otherwise modest program at San Isidro. In the very last jump, and rallying wide, Guadilu (Arg) (Señor Candy {Arg}) (54.5 kilograms) confirmed her sharp form, getting up by just a half-head over Che Solita (Arg) (Greenspring), with pacesetter Joy Traviesa (Arg) (Fortify) another head back in third.

Carrying the familiar silks of Stud Lagrange, Guadilu capitalized on a day when the heavy favorite Kelly Rose (Arg) (Il Campione {Chi}, 61.5) was never a serious factor, undone by the impost and checking in fourth, 2 1/2 lengths behind the top trio.

Runner-up to Kelly Rose last time in the Hándicap Academia Nacional de Agronomía y Veterinaria, which had marked her first try at the upper levels following a strong record in the allowance ranks, Guadilu had only missed the exacta once before—when eighth on debut.

With Lautaro Balmaceda aboard for trainer Agustín Pavlovsky, the bay tracked at the rear of the compact field while Martín Valle sent Joy Traviesa to the front, shadowed closely by Cold Mind (Arg) (Lucullan), through splits of :23.60 and :46.90.

Straightening for home, the leader appeared to have things under control, opening a couple of lengths. But Guadilu and Che Solita launched together down the center of the track to reel her in, edging past in the shadow of the post. Final time for 1300 meters over a wet dirt track was 1:16.99.

Now a winner of four of her nine career starts, Guadilu is out of La Introvertida (Arg) (Star Dabbler), herself a daughter of G1 winner Come Into (Arg) (Romanov {Ire}). The family also includes stakes winners Rules Out (Roman Ruler), Mister Misty (Saint Sever {Fr}) and Blinking Champ (Ski Champ).

Bred by Gamlingay SA, Guadilu still appears to have upside at this level and, having just turned four, connections can harbor hopes of her developing into a stakes performer.