Juan Saldivia scored another memorable double in the Polla de Potrillos and Polla de Potancas, securing yet another dream afternoon on the big stage
The leader of the trainers' standings at Palermo repeated the rare feat he first achieved in 2021, this time conditioning both Fletcher and Look At To Me to classic glory. Serving a one-month suspension that runs through September 12, he took in the action directly from the barn alongside Martín Garrido, one of his key assistants, and the rest of his stable staff. Legendary conditioner Roberto Pellegatta was tasked with officially saddling both classic winners
By Diego H. Mitagstein
Juan Saldivia was forced to watch one of the most important days of his young and extraordinary training career from afar. He couldn't be present at Palermo—the track where he leads the trainers' standings and where his horses once again elevated him—but from the barn, alongside Martín Garrido, one of his key assistants, and his entire stable staff, he savored an unforgettable Saturday. Look At To Me (Dabster) and Fletcher (Gershwin) captured the Gran Premio Polla de Potancas (G1) and Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1), respectively.
Saldivia is currently serving a minor one-month suspension that ends on September 12, which is why both runners were officially presented by Roberto Pellegatta, his mentor—the man under whom he developed professionally and to whom he continually gives credit for much of his success.
This was not the first time the young conditioner swept both Pollas in a single afternoon. He previously achieved the feat in 2021, when Carta Embrujada (Storm Embrujado) and Irwin (Seek Again) opened the Triple Crown with classic victories. Five years later, he recorded a double reserved for a select few.
“We work to win, and both of them came into their races in spectacular shape. But having things actually come together on the track is a different story. I was also expecting a big race from Mozo de Bar (Bodemeister) in the San Martín, and he ran great to finish second. But what happened to us was truly a dream afternoon,” Saldivia admitted, still relishing a perfect day.
Behind the decisive victory of Look At To Me lay a patient, meticulous effort to bring out the best in a filly that is impressive both in physical stature and ability.
“With Look At To Me, the key was in her preparation, trimming her down until she weighed 12 kilos less than she did in the Campos. In that race she ran stretched out, not responding to Juan [Noriega], who rode her that day. We worked to get her lighter and more agile, and I think that made the difference in a race like the Polla, where you need early rhythm and a strong finish.”
Getting the daughter of Dabster to peak for her big target was no easy task. Her trainer detailed the hurdles the team had to navigate to build her fitness and allow her immense potential to surface.
“The filly didn’t suffer any injuries, but she was always tough to get fit. She weighed 535 kilos, but she always showed serious talent. However, if you gave a long breeze to a 2-year-old animal of that size, she’d wind up tied up and sore. So you had to stop, then start all over again. It wasn't easy getting her into a rhythm. She’s like a Holstein cow: if you don’t press her and demand effort, she does as little as possible. She eats heavily, which makes what the barn staff accomplished all this time so remarkable.”
The next stop for Look At To Me will be the Gran Premio Selección (G1) over 2000 meters, presenting a different test with the added distance.
“Looking ahead to the Selección, I don't think she'll have any trouble with the stretch-out because her running style works in her favor,” Saldivia anticipated, confident that the additional ground won't be an issue.
If the filly's victory carried immense weight, Fletcher made the afternoon complete. The winner of the Clásico Miguel Cané (G2) entered as a heavy favorite and not only delivered, but dominated with an authority that firmly established him as the premier 3-year-old of his generation.
“Fletcher is a machine. From the moment they stepped into the paddock, everyone thought the same, reflected in his 1.10 odds. But he had to back up the impression he left in the Cané, and he did just that. The pace was more aggressive than I expected, but he handled it like the top horse he is. Before the race I told William [Pereyra] to be careful at the break from the inside. I stressed that we couldn't let what happened to us in the Penna a few years ago with Ever Daddy (Daddy Long Legs) happen again, where we went out to duel and ended up losing. So when Buin took the lead, he let him go; once settled, he got comfortable. He is extremely tractable, versatile, and you can position him wherever you want. He broke, went forward, and then relaxed to track the pace—the kind of colt every trainer loves to have in the barn.”
For Saldivia, Fletcher’s performance reaffirmed a superiority that had already been evident in his previous starts.
“He was simply superior. Against this crop, setting aside Colorado del Monte (Strategos) and strictly on the dirt, he has been far above the rest, winning convincingly at Palermo and La Plata while leaving a massive impression.”
The connection with Fletcher began long before his racetrack triumphs. Saldivia spotted him at the Haras La Pasiónyearling sale, drawn to a maternal family he knew intimately, and did not hesitate to push for his purchase.
“We picked the colt out at the La Pasión auction. I had trained a sister of his before and I absolutely love the female line. I was determined to buy him, and Cacho Valenzuela liked him as well and bought him. Roberto [Pellegatta], of course, wasn't sold on him at first because he’s short-backed and he prefers a different conformation,” he recalled with a smile.
Despite that initial difference in opinion, Saldivia remains deeply grateful for everything he learned alongside Pellegatta. He made a point to emphasize that bond, especially with his mentor listed as the official trainer for both classic winners during his suspension.
“I am forever grateful to Roberto because everything I am today as a trainer, I achieved thanks to him. What he instilled in me is what I put into practice every day. Whenever I have a doubt, I call him and he gives me his perspective,” he said of Pellegatta.
Now comes the decision of whether to point Fletcher toward the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1) on the San Isidroturf. The colt's only previous try on the grass came in the Carreras de las Estrellas Juvenile (G1), which yielded an uncharacteristic result, though Saldivia feels there was a clear explanation.
“The day he failed on the turf, he didn't get a clean break after being bumped at the start. Right now we are waiting to see how he comes out of the race, though he seems to have emerged in great shape. We are a month out from the Jockey Club and we'll monitor how the track is conditioning. But it's a different time of year now, and the surface gets firmer.”
The opportunity to chase the Triple Crown remains on the table. For Saldivia, it would mean reaching one of the ultimate milestones in his career, though he knows the road ahead is long and that guarantees do not exist in racing.
“As a trainer I would love to achieve that goal—it’s the ultimate challenge. Fletcher makes it easier; he weighed in 8 kilos heavier than he did for the Cané and he is extremely sound. Hopefully it happens. There’s always the fear of coming up short, but training for Cacho means there's no pressure, which is a huge advantage. He is as competitive as I am. Time will tell.”
Juan Saldivia continues to stand as one of the leading young trainers carrying the torch for Argentine racing. Having already secured classic titles, led training standings, and conditioned top-tier talent, Saturday's double carried a special meaning. From the barn, away from the winner's circle at Palermo but surrounded by the team that does the daily work, he achieved what once seemed unrepeatable. Fletcher and Look At To Me delivered another Pollas sweep—and a day that will live in the record books.
