Juan Saldivia’s Double Dream in the Gran Premio Nacional: Chasing a Derby Hat-Trick

Back from the U.S., Where He Traveled to See Sarawak Rim Run in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), the Trainer Now Turns His Focus to Butterfing and Winston

Juan Saldivia Aims for His Third Victory in the Gran Premio Nacional / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Simón Mitagstein

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – The G1 Gran Premio Nacional (2500 meters, dirt), Argentina’s Derby, will once again feature a familiar and respected name among its contenders: Juan Saldivia. Having won two of the last three renewals of the country’s most prestigious race—with Niño Guapo (Catcher In the Rye) in 2022 and Ever Daddy(Daddy Long Legs) in 2023—the trainer now seeks a remarkable hat trick, this time with a pair of promising colts: Butterfing (Angiolo) and Winston (Forge).

Recently back from the United States, where he traveled to watch Sarawak Rim (Remote) compete in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff—a mare he conditioned in Argentina before being prepared for the event by Ignacio Correas (h.)—Saldivia is upbeat about his runners’ chances.

“We have high expectations for both colts,” said the trainer, who continues to share responsibilities with Roberto Pellegatta, now less involved in day-to-day work. “They’re both arriving healthy, and that’s the most important thing when facing a challenge of this kind.”

On Butterfing, the undefeated son of Angiolo returning from a brief break, Saldivia noted: “I would’ve liked to get a prep race into him, but it didn’t happen. Even so, I believe he’ll be up to the task and should run a solid race.”

As for Winston, a model of consistency by Forge, he added: “He’s a tough, sound little horse who always fights. He ran a great race last time in the G3 Provincia de Buenos Aires at La Plata, just missing, and he deserves his spot in this field.”

Saldivia sees the race as wide open: “Looking at the entries, aside from Blue Caviar (Equal Stripes) and Uncle Moi(Uncle Mo) from Firmamento, who ran huge in the G2 Eduardo Casey, it looks like a very even race—competitive and fun to run.”

Confident in his duo’s readiness, he continued: “Butterfing has had an excellent preparation, and Winston has shown he’s always at a high competitive level. We don’t enter a race of this magnitude unless we’re sure our horses are ready—especially over such a demanding distance.”

On race tactics, the trainer expects different approaches: “These races often lack pace. With the gray colt, since he’s coming off a layoff, we can’t send him early—that would be giving too much away. Winston, on the other hand, is steady and tends to improve as the race goes on. Ideally, he’ll start making his move around the 1000-meter mark. But ultimately, it’s up to the jockeys and how the race unfolds.”

Before returning to Argentina, Saldivia had a valuable experience at Del Mar, following Sarawak Rim’s U.S. debut, where she finished a respectable seventh against the world’s top mares.

“She was taken out of her rhythm early,” he explained. “Irad Ortiz Jr. did the right thing—if he’d chased the pace, she probably would’ve finished last. She was coming off a layoff and faced a kind of race she wasn’t used to. I was amazed at how they go flat out from the start, no matter the distance, and still finish strong—that’s what cost her.”

Still, he came away encouraged: “The positive is that she was running on late and made up ground. The jockey told us she ran well and that she has everything to build a very good campaign going forward.”

With the calm perspective of a man seasoned by success, Saldivia summed it up with quiet conviction: “You learn a lot when you compete against the best, at the highest level. We took several lessons from the experience—and I’m sure we’ll be back.”