Kevin and Nico Enjoyed a Perfectly Synced Afternoon as a Team

Jockey and Trainer Shine with Team Treble, Scoring Wins with Colt Strassera, Filly Emprestada, and Veteran Mare Bambina Luna

Despite Breaking from the Outside, Emprestada Went Wire to Wire / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Kevin Banegas and Nicolás Martín Ferro enjoyed an almost perfect afternoon on Wednesday at Hipódromo de San Isidro, combining for a stylish treble that included both three-year-old events on the card—each run under optional claiming conditions (not alternates, to be precise).

Jockey and trainer, who have been working closely together for quite some time, kicked off their day immediately by taking the opener with Strassera (Strategos x Barbados Girl by Speightstown, bred by Haras Don Florentino and Haras Ojos Claros).

The gray colt had disappointed as favorite a few weeks back on turf when finishing ninth, but a switch to dirt and noticeable improvement turned the tables. Producing a strong stretch run, he collared frontrunner Gran Corleone (Grand Reward) and then held off the flying late bid of Wild the Grate (Winning Prize), giving Ferro a 1-2 finish. Strassera stopped the clock in 1:10.76.

A short while later, their filly Emprestada (Cosmic Trigger x Empress Style by Sunray Spirit, Haras Abolengo) secured her maiden victory with an even sharper performance. Sixth on debut down the straight at Palermo, the Stud Laredorunner relished the switch to a turn and stretch-out in trip, making all the running to score by three lengths over Lovely Rose (Fortify). Her time was quicker than Strassera’s.

Emprestada is a maternal half-sister to G1 winner Emprestado (Catcher In the Rye), both bred by Haras Abolengo, as is Bambina Luna (Equal Stripes x Bambella by Ride the Rails), who capped the duo’s treble by breaking her maiden at age five in the Premio Tarrito over 1400 meters, doing so at her tenth attempt.

Other notable results on the day included Basque Iron (Alma de Acero x Pura Vasca by Pure Prize, bred by Darío N. La Regina), who lit up the tote paying $100.90 in the Premio Victoria Regia over a mile, guided by Maximiliano Aseritoafter five unplaced efforts.

Earlier, La Nueva Vida (Le Blues x Steel Band by Sebi Halo, bred by Haras El Paraíso) registered her second win at age four in the Premio Sebi Moro, posting a blistering 1:02.67, just under a second shy of Claro Oscuro’s track record.