Kevin Banegas Scores Five Wins on Saturday, Extends Remarkable Streak Among Jockeys

The professional was one of the standout figures of the meeting and is currently enjoying a remarkable run of form

Pampero gave Kevin Banegas one of his five victories on the Palermo card / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Those tough moments that Kevin Banegas faced in early 2024, when he had to stop riding and undergo surgery on his left leg due to a femoral bone injury that had never healed and caused him excruciating pain, now seem a distant memory. The injury had limited his always-excellent abilities.

Having overcome the ordeal and now fully confident, the jockey is enjoying perhaps the best professional moment of his career. On Saturday at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, he showcased his talents to the fullest, becoming one of the standout figures of the day with five victories that earned applause.

Currently leading the standings at Hipódromo de San Isidro, and trailing Francisco Leandro by just 40 to 29 first-place finishes at Avenida del Libertador and Dorrego, Kevin started the day strong, guiding the colt Say It Fast (Cosmic Trigger x Say It Nice, by Asitic Boy) to his third win in the 1,000-meter Premio Master Clette, partnering with María F. Alvarez and Walter Suárez, the trainer duo who has always supported him.

A short while later, in the third race, the Premio Emboscada (1400 meters, dirt), the jockey repeated the feat, this time with Django (Remote x Iside, by Pure Prize, Haras Rodeo Chico), who won by five lengths to secure his fourth victory.

Banegas completed his triplet with Pampero (De Parabienes x Negracha, by Devil His Due, Haras El Padrino), who in his second outing conquered the last of the categories, winning by three lengths in the second race of the Premio Cryptoclearance, once again over 1,000 meters.

After the Clásico Expressive Halo, Kevin increased the pace and effectively guided Extended Options (Il Campione x Red Hots, by Incurable Optimist, Triple Alliance), who, at 4 years old and in his eighth outing, claimed his long-awaited first win in the second race of the Premio Halo Sunshine.

Finally, the jockey rounded off his day with Qué Perfil (Qué Vida Buena x Soy Diestra, by Sebi Halo, Haras Mi Complejo), who, at 4 years old, scored his second win in the 1,000 meters of the Premio Hasta Después.

In action since 2015, Kevin Banegas has now won a total of 737 races in his career, having participated in 6,793, with an almost 11% success rate and 38 classic wins, including two at the G1 level. Numbers that continue to grow...