Kevin Banegas: “He Has Tremendous Quality, Great Class, and Does Everything Right”

The jockey highlighted the calm demeanor with which Teobaldo tackled the 2200 meters of the Clásico Provincia de Buenos Aires (G3), noting a clear contrast with his previous performance. Furthermore, he is confident that the colt will continue to improve and will have no trouble handling even longer distances

LA PLATA.— Teobaldo’s victory in the Clásico Provincia de Buenos Aires (G3), which closed out the Hipódromo de La Plata Triple Crown series on Tuesday, left a thoroughly positive impression due to the commanding manner in which the colt handled the 2200-meter test. Much of that dominant display stemmed from one key factor that jockey Kevin Banegas emphasized repeatedly after the race: composure.

The son of Uncle Chuck had shown plenty of natural ability since arriving at El Bosque, but he was still very much in the midst of a learning curve. In his previous start, when finishing third in the Clásico Jockey Club de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (G2), racing circumstances had compromised his effort. This time, however, everything went smoothly.

“To be honest, he traveled very comfortably all the way around. In his previous race he had been a bit keener, but this time he broke, immediately settled into a comfortable spot at the back, and stayed completely relaxed throughout. He found a seam coming into the home stretch, launched his move right away, passed them very well, and drew away effortlessly,” Banegas explained to local television reporters, clearly pleased with his partner's response.

The game plan was straightforward from the break. While Licitador (Forge) took on the task of setting the pace, Teobaldo bided his time in reserve, conserving energy and waiting for the right moment to make up ground.

For Banegas, the marked difference in attitude compared to his prior start proved decisive, allowing the colt to exploit his talent to far greater effect.

“He traveled much more calmly than in his last race. That day he got bumped at the start and got a little rank, but today everything was completely different,” the rider added.

The impression left by Teobaldo also invites optimism for his future. After capturing the Clásico José Pedro Ramírez(G3) over 1700 meters, taking third over 2000 meters in the provincial Jockey Club, and now delivering a dominant performance over 2200 meters, he appears to possess plenty of room for continued growth, particularly as distance demands increase.

When asked about the prospect of tackling an additional 200 or 300 meters, Banegas expressed no hesitation, while naturally deferring any final decisions to the training team.

“Riding him the way I did today, I don't see any issue with him handling more distance, though that will depend on what the trainer decides. I think the colt has tremendous quality; race by race he's going to keep improving and progressing. He's still very green and has very few starts under his belt,” he noted.

The jockey's confidence is not based solely on what Teobaldo delivers on race day. It stems equally from his daily behavior during morning exercises, where he consistently displays traits that promise an even brighter future: “He has tremendous quality, great class, and does everything right,” Banegas summarized when describing the colt's morning routine.

The takeaway is highly encouraging. Teobaldo won with authority, but above all, he showcased a maturity in his running style that could prove vital for upcoming high-level assignments. More relaxed, more experienced, and instantly responsive when called upon, he confirmed that his ceiling has yet to be reached.

If Kevin Banegas’ words made one thing clear, it is that beyond the immediate satisfaction of capturing a prestigious race, the sense remains that Teobaldo’s best days are still ahead.