It’s Time for Chilean G1 Winner The Goat to Show What He Can Do in the United States

The three-time Chilean Group 1 winner, a son of Midshipman, will line up in Santa Anita Park’s Triple Bend Stakes over seven furlongs

ARCADIA, California (Special to Turf Diario).- The American adventure of Chilean star The Goat now has an official starting point.

And it will come at none other than Santa Anita Park, one of racing’s most iconic venues, where he is set to make his highly anticipated local debut this Sunday in the Triple Bend Stakes (G3), contested over seven furlongs and carrying a purse of $100,000.

Imported by Don Alberto Stable and now trained by John Sadler, the son of Midshipman will attempt to bring the same level of class that made him one of the standout horses of his generation in Chile to the highest levels of American racing.

His return has generated considerable anticipation.

After all, The Goat left behind a brief but highly impressive South American résumé, winning four of his five starts and concluding his Chilean career with victory in the St. Leger (G1) in December of 2024.

That performance fully confirmed the promise he had displayed from the beginning of his career and immediately opened the door to an international campaign.

It took some time for that opportunity to materialize, but now he faces his most demanding test yet.

And he will not have an easy assignment.

The principal rival in the compact field is Stronghold, winner of the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and one of the leading members of the Classic generation two seasons ago.

Trained by Phil D’Amato, the son of Ghostzapper recently returned from a lengthy layoff and responded with a dead-heat victory in an allowance race at Oaklawn Park, leaving a highly favorable impression.

With more than $1.2 million in earnings and a remarkably consistent record of four victories and seven runner-up finishes from 13 starts, he clearly enters as the horse to beat.

But The Goat is far from arriving unprepared.

Sadler has carefully managed his training since March, during which time the Chilean star has recorded eight official workouts in preparation for his American debut.

The riding assignment will go to Venezuelan jockey Emisael Jaramillo, one of the most successful Latin American riders currently competing in the United States.

The field also includes another intriguing contender in The Last Straw, a son of Into Mischief out of multiple Grade 1 winner Bast (Uncle Mo), who will be making his stakes debut for legendary trainer Richard Mandella with Hall of Famer Mike Smith aboard.

But from this side of the continent, all eyes will be fixed on The Goat.

Because whenever a South American horse arrives in California to test himself against established local stars, hope inevitably begins to grow.

And because once again, Chile is sending a horse with every reason to dream big.