Kelly Rose Hits Long-Awaited Victory in Record Time

The Il Campione filly scored decisively in the Handicap Academia Nacional de Agronomía y Veterinaria (1300 m)

Kelly Rose’s Comfortable Finish at San Isidro / HSI

Carrying the maximum impost of 129 pounds (58 ½ kilos) was no problem for Kelly Rose in the Handicap Academia Nacional de Agronomía y Veterinaria (1300m, dirt), the feature race on an otherwise quiet Wednesday card at Hipódromo de San Isidro.

With expected authority and paying a generous $3.30, the Il Campione filly notched the first major win of her productive career, setting a new track record in 1:15.59—shaving off the 1:15.78 mark set by Misael (Grand Reward) on June 16, 2017.

The gray filly, coming off a loss to Catch the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) in a similar event and showing steady graded placings prior, made the task look easy. Under the precise guidance of Martín La Palma, she was prominent throughout the race, never straying far behind the early pace setters Estrella del Día (Il Campione, 55 ½) and Full of Glory (Full Mast, 54), who posted fast fractions of 23.51 and 46.18 seconds.

Entering the stretch, Kelly Rose angled out, switched leads on cue from her rider, and quickly opened a decisive gap. She showed no concern in holding off a late surge from Guadilu (Señor Candy, 54), prevailing by 3½ lengths. Two lengths further back, Look Happy (Hi Happy, 57) completed the trifecta.

Representing Stud La Vida Es Bella, presented by Rodrigo Baglietto and trained by Emanuel Retamoso, Kelly Rosealso earned the “Trébol” bonus, which added 50% to the $5 million peso purse, boosting her winner’s earnings to $7.5 million pesos.

Bred by Haras Santa Inés, the filly is a full sister to the prolific Keino and a granddaughter of Katy Rose (Jump Start), who is a maternal half-sister to champion Kalithea (Exchange Rate), tracing back to a family imported from the United States.

Having graduated from allowance company, Kelly Rose appears poised to make a serious run in stakes company, especially when she finds the ideal race conditions.