International Look Showed Tremendous Grit to Secure Her Highly Anticipated Stakes Breakthrough

Following a series of frustrating minor placings, and relishing her return to the familiar dirt strip at Libertador and Dorrego , the courageous filly dug deep to finally secure her elusive black-type breakthrough in the Clásico Inés Victorica Roca (G3) at Palermo

PALERMO, Buenos Aires (Special for Turf Diario).— Very few elite fillies currently competing in Argentina boast the spectacular genetic pedigree of International Look. A half-sister to Grade 1 winners Intense for Me (Fortify) and In Your Honor (Asiatic Boy), as well as Grade 2 winner In Her Honor (Exchange Rate), the chestnut filly added another glorious chapter to her family history this Monday at the Hipódromo de Palermo. She officially placed her name in bold black-type capital letters with a courageous, gritty victory in the Clásico Inés Victorica Roca (G3), a 1,600-meter event contested over a wet dirt strip.

What had eluded her on several previous occasions by the narrowest of margins finally became a reality for the daughter of Cosmic Trigger. The performance firmly reconfirmed that the main track at the corner of Avenida del Libertador and Dorrego is where she truly thrives, bouncing back in spectacular fashion from a pair of disappointing, sub-par performances over the turf at San Isidro.

Securing the elusive graded breakthrough was by no means an easy task, a factor that only elevates the merit of her performance. Forcing the issue from the opening strides without ever backing down, the chestnut tracked the pace closely, tracking the early foot of the pacesetter and heavy favorite Filippiada (Il Mercato) and refusing to give her an inch of breathing room.

As the field straightened into the lengthy Palermo homestretch, International Look readily set her sights on the leader down the center of the track. Meanwhile, Paxing (Señor Candy) launched an inside bid along the rail, and Reina Secreta (Víctor Security) began mounting a wider, long-sustained rally from further back.

With 300 meters left to run, International Look successfully wore down the leader, and from that point forward, the race became a pure test of sheer determination. Digging deep under pressure, she lasted to the wire to score by a hard-fought half-length over Paxing. Reina Secreta completed the trifecta another 1 1/2 lengths back, while Filippiada checked in fourth, a neck behind, stopping the clock in a solid 1:36.90 after early fractions of 25.17, 48.98, and 1:12.94.

Jockey Gustavo Calvente utilized every ounce of his signature strength and powerful drive to get the absolute best out of the Stud Toroquemero color-bearer. While conditioned by Nicolás Martín Ferro, the filly was officially saddled on Monday by his father, Enrique Ferro, due to the current suspension being served by the reigning champion trainer.

Bred by the prestigious Haras Abolengo and tracing back to a prominent branch of the farm's iconic and highly successful "I" maternal family, International Look celebrated her newly turned 5-year-old season by capturing the highly coveted graded victory her connections had long been chasing. With her black-type status secured, it seems highly unlikely she will be stepping down from the elite pedestal she has so deservedly conquered.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPqjCjEIUbI