Lunfardo Turned Frowns into Smiles with His Victory in the Clásico Old Man
- Turf Diario
- hace 1 hora
- 2 min de lectura
Following an unexpected setback in San Isidro's Manuel Anasagasti (L), he returned to the dirt track and outdueled El Gibson by a half-length
The long faces have vanished, replaced by broad smiles. Doubts have been thoroughly dispelled, and the loftiest goals are once again appearing on the horizon. Such is the lightning speed at which fortunes can shift when an unexpected defeat is swiftly erased by a highly valuable stakes triumph.
This was precisely the recent roller-coaster journey for Lunfardo, the talented Stud Las Canarias colt who climbed back up the ranks among the nation's elite three-year-olds this Saturday by capturing the Clásico Old Man (G3). Contested over 1,400 meters on the dirt, the event completed a spectacular graded stakes tripleheader on a memorable afternoon at Palermo.
The son of Daddy Long Legs had to dig deep to find his way back to the winner's circle. More than just facing fierce opposition from his rivals, his primary challenge was rediscovering his true self following a deeply frustrating performance in San Isidro's Clásico Manuel Anasagasti (L) on the turf.
Backed by the high-flying, in-form duo of trainer Juan Saldivia and jockey William Pereyra, the dark bay bred by Haras Los Turfistas shined brightly on the very same stage where he had launched his career—finishing a highly commendable third on debut to eventual Grade 1 winner Colorado del Monte (Strategos), and where he subsequently broke his maiden by a narrow margin over current Grade 2 winner Fletcher (Gershwin).
Throughout most of the running, Pereyra executed a textbook tactical ride, saving every possible inch of ground along the inside rail while El Gibson (Uncle Chuck) and Cautivador (Pneumatic) traded blows up front, setting a hot, demanding early tempo.
As the field straightened for home, the rider initially looked poised to angle outward for a run at El Gibson. However, the moment a massive seam materialized right along the inside rail, Pereyra didn't hesitate for a microsecond, launching Lunfardo directly through the gap.
The maneuver proved to be the winning move. By the 300-meter mark, the grandson of Include had forged ahead with authority and appeared well on his way to an easy victory. Yet, upon finding himself completely isolated on the frontend, the colt began to idle and lose focus, allowing a courageous El Gibson to battle back gamely on the outside.
Ultimately, Lunfardo dug in to preserve a neck advantage at the wire, while Fuego Imponente (Seahenge) rallied strongly from the back of the pack to secure a highly meritorious third-place finish. The teletimer stopped at a sharp 1:23.99, an excellent time for the seven-furlong distance.
Following a temporary setback that had briefly clouded his prospects, Lunfardo has rapidly restored the immense credit he earned during his initial starts. Judging by the grit he displayed in this bounce-back performance, he has made it abundantly clear that he remains a major force to be reckoned with in a crop that is just beginning to establish its definitive leaders.
