Don Alberto's filly achieved her greatest victory in the most important race of the season at Sporting, in Viña del Mar

By Fernando Ojeda V. (Diario El Crack Chile)
VALPARAÍSO, Viña del Mar (Special para Turf Diario).- The 2400 meters of El Derby, the third leg of the Chilean Triple Crown, the most prestigious race in Chilean horse racing today, went to Lucky Red, the Midshipman filly from Haras Don Alberto, the breeder and owner. Joaquin Herrera rode the Julio Orellana-trained filly, who defeated Ponteau and Cassis Violeta, both also by Midshipman, while the favorite, Horco Molle (Good Samaritan), completed the placings.
El Derby 2025 ended with a surprising result as Lucky Red triumphed over the 2400 meters of competition, where the favorite, Horco Molle, finished fourth, having encountered significant trouble in the first turn, which ultimately compromised his chances of securing the win.
As per tradition, this season’s field consisted of 16 competitors: 11 colts, including the overwhelming favorite, and five fillies, with Cassis Violeta, the winner of Las Oaks (G1), standing out.
Notably absent were names like Ivan Denisovich, El Heredero (Mendelssohn), Gran Oriente (Classic Empire), and Setanta (Mendelssohn), whose teams raised concerns over the regulations governing the third leg of the Triple Crown. However, once the rules are set, they apply equally to all. Also worth noting is the decision by the team behind Lonwhite (Mendelssohn) to bypass the premier event in favor of a minor classic on the same day, which they won convincingly, signaling their intentions to make Lonwhite the future miler on Santiago’s turf.
At 7:50 p.m. last Sunday, the final hopes for the last big classic of the generation were ignited, with Kane (Mendelssohn) taking the lead ahead of Mogul (Classic Empire), setting a slow pace that ultimately led to a time of 2m26.04s, far off the 2m23.34s set by Solaria (Scat Daddy) just over a decade ago.
As we predicted, the first turn, the “tomb of champions,” proved tricky for the favorite Horco Molle, whose jockey, Kevin Espina, struggled to manage a situation that ultimately drained his mount’s energy in the homestretch, diminishing his chances of reaching the trifecta. The Haras Don Alberto dominance, however, remained intact with unexpected names in the placings, earning them well-deserved recognition for their standout performances.
Lucky Red, running in the front pack, was the winner, showing impressive form after the final 400 meters, pulling away under Joaquin Herrera’s guidance, in the first-ever Derby (G1) win for both Herrera and trainer Julio Orellana.
Coming from behind, as she did in the Copa Jackson, Ponteau finished second to her fellow Don Alberto-bred, representing Stud La Nonna Ltda., while the third spot went to Cassis Violeta, another Orellana trainee.
A historic trifecta for Midshipman, the third or fourth sire from Haras Don Alberto, one of the most prestigious breeding operations in Chile today. Remarkably, Midshipman’s offspring in the second line have been key to their recent successes.
Thus, the story of the third leg of the Chilean Triple Crown was written, which this season saw two fillies shine: Doña Clota (Ivan Denisovich) in El Ensayo (G1) and Lucky Red in El Derby, while The Goat (Midshipman) claimed the St Leger.
Total betting turnover surpassed 1.44 billion for the 25 races, with over 208 million wagered on the big race. These impressive numbers reflected a classic event that, despite a logistical shift leading to a smaller crowd, still achieved significant wagering activity, a balance that authorities will surely review.
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