Le Massif’s Late Rally Lands the Mariano Moreno

The son of Le Ken is steadily establishing himself among the top sprinters at La Plata, defeating Lo Dejo Todo by half a length

Le Massif edged past Lo Dejo Todo in the final strides / LA PLATA

LA PLATA.- Speed around a turn is always an attractive category at La Plata. It is there that the track hosts its most important races, crowned by the G2 Ciudad de La Plata every November 19, awaiting the best sprinters.

On the road to that dreamed-of date, Sunday featured one of the prep steps with the return of the Clásico Mariano Moreno (1200m, dirt) to the calendar – a stakes race that had mysteriously disappeared from the schedule of major events.

In a field full of quality, it was Le Massif who managed to impose his conditions, making the most of the swift pace set up front and unleashing once again his powerful late kick – the same that allowed him to surprise in mid-May when he captured the Listed Julio Corte.

Completing a graded stakes double for jockey Lautaro Balmaceda – who on Saturday had won the G3 Old Man at Palermo with Libreto (Hurricane Cat) – the son of the talented Le Ken (Easing Along) tracked in a second flight while Viejos Tiempos Mask (Mask) dictated the pace through splits of 23.38 and 46.24.

Into the stretch, the leader began to weaken, and it was Lo Dejo Todo (Le Blues) who inherited the lead. But by then, Balmaceda had already set Le Massif down in the clear, and the bay unleashed his run down the center of the track, grabbing the advantage in the final yards to defeat his rival by half a length at generous odds of $11.25.

Another 2 1/2 lengths back, Sonreime (Orpen) completed the trifecta, while the favorite Mr. Versace (Fortify) finished eighth, beaten 5 3/4 lengths. The final time was 1:12.26 over a normal track.

Racing for the successful Stud El Gruñón and trained by the capable Luis H. Domínguez, Le Massif kicked off his 4-year-old season with an important victory. He continues to cement himself among the top sprinters at the eucalyptus-lined track and now heads towards November 19 with big ambitions – fueled by results.