La Meninha and Her Lovely Habit of Shining in La Plata’s Speed Races

The Le Blues filly scored her second consecutive win in the Asociación Cooperativa de Criadores de SPC (L) and remains unbeaten over that track

La Meninha nailed Calle de Tierra in the final strides / HLP

LA PLATA.- Reappearing after more than four months on the sidelines, facing a tough group, and defending her undefeated status over the local turns, La Meninha delivered a highly commendable repeat performance in the Clásico Asociación Cooperativa de Criadores de Caballos de Sangre Pura de Carrera (L, 1100m, dirt), the race that opened the stakes portion of Dardo Rocha (G1) day.

A filly who has shown talent down the straight—highlighted by her win in the L Clásico Miss Terrible and a strong fourth behind Arellano (Angiolo) in last season’s G1 Félix de Alzaga Unzué—La Meninha has made it clear that her absolute best emerges around a bend, on the eucalyptus-lined course of La Plata.

Though she typically employs a “build-from-behind” running style, this time the Le Blues filly from Stud Tres Jotassettled a bit closer while Gran Celestial (Il Mercato) and the favorite Calle de Tierra (Strategos) battled through sharp fractions of :22.93 and :45.56.

The leaders fought hard almost the entire length of the stretch. When Calle de Tierra finally wore down Gran Celestial, La Meninha swept past on the outside, collaring her 50 meters from the wire to score by half a neck.

Gran Celestial held for a strong third, 1 1/2 lengths back, in a race that lacked the presence of Emprestada (Cosmic Trigger), the on-paper favorite.

La Meninha stopped the clock in 1:03.75, giving trainer Arnaldo Omar Vigil and jockey Adrián Giannetti another memorable moment.“I don’t get to ride her in the mornings, but I know her from past races,” Giannetti said. “They went fast early, and the plan was to stay relaxed so she could finish—and that’s how it worked out. In the stretch, when she changed leads and picked up, she really surged.”

Out of All Aboard (Angiolo), La Meninha now boasts 6 wins from 13 starts, including 5 stakes victories, and preserved her flawless record in La Plata’s two-turn sprints, confirming once again that this is her kingdom.