Maroñas: Phillipson Rules the Day on campeones Sunday

The Silks of Benjamín Steinbruch Collected Seven Wins at Maroñas, Including Four in the Breeders’ Series—Highlighted by the Classic with Quixote via Disqualification

Team Phillipson Capped Their Afternoon with a Victory in the Classic Courtesy of Quixote/ MAROÑAS

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special for Turf Diario).- Campeones Day at Uruguay’s Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas was painted in the colors of Phillipson, as Benjamín Steinbruch’s silks enjoyed a historic afternoon, perhaps the most successful in the stable’s history.

The outfit found the winner’s circle in seven races on Sunday, with four of those victories coming in the 18th edition of the series organized by the Asociación de Criadores del Caballo Puro de Carrera del Uruguay.

The highlight came in the Campeones Classic (2000m, dirt), where Quixote (T.H. Approval–Forbidden Love, by Footstepsinthesand) was awarded the victory via disqualification after finishing second on the track. Running Gun(Full Mast) crossed the wire three-quarters of a length ahead but was ruled to have interfered with Quixote by repeatedly shifting inward during the stretch run, impeding his momentum despite no contact being made. Following an extensive inquiry, the stewards reversed the result, handing the win to Quixote. The favorite Pluto (Discreetly Mine), a stablemate to the winner, closed strongly to finish third, just a neck behind.

Trained by Raimundo Soares and ridden by Carlos Lavor, Quixote stopped the clock in 2:03.44. The 5-year-old had finished eighth in this race last year—won by Pluto—and entered off a win in a 1400-meter allowance. He was also runner-up in the 2023 G1 Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez, finishing behind Argentine standout Roundofapplause(Fortify).

Phillipson’s classic tally began earlier in the day when Sandigold (Will Take Charge–Kerubim Dourada, by T.H. Approval) captured the Campeones Mile (1600m, dirt) under Luis Cáceres, for trainer Antonio Cintra and assistant Jorge Rey.

In the Campeones Juvenile (1400m, dirt), unbeaten Touch of Destiny (Midshipman–Holanda Yo, by T.H. Approval) made it five wins from as many starts with a 7-length romp over stablemate Tadow Star (Midshipman), once again with Cáceres aboard and Soares calling the shots.

The stable’s fourth victory came with Rabravo Demon (Uaredemon–Carola Brava, by Lasting Approval) in the Campeones Sprint (1200m, dirt), successfully defending his 2024 title with a 1 1/4-length score over Pelagio(Overanalyze), completing the race in 1:09.51. Cáceres and Soares again teamed up for the win.

Another of the day’s highlights came in the Distaff (1800m, dirt), where heavy favorite Dale Flojita (Sloane Avenue) faltered badly to finish seventh, opening the door for longshot Guitarrera (Mestre Gosik–Mi Bordona, by Ecclesiastic), bred by Haras Don Juca, to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths over Negra Modelo (Trinniberg). Everton Rodrígues piloted the winner for Stud Luca and trainer Pablo Duarte, stopping the clock in 1:48.43.

The Campeones Juvenile Fillies (1400m, dirt) went to favorite Grandinata (Trinniberg–Granduca, by Exchange Rate), bred by Haras Don Carlos. She dug in to hold off Tupi Carioca (T.H. Approval) by half a length. Sergio Dorneles trains the filly for Stud Cabaña El Indio, with Waldemar Maciel aboard.

Finally, there was an upset in the Campeones Juvenile Sprint (1000m, dirt), where Storm Summer (The Leopard–Summerville, by Pitu da Guanabara), bred by Haras Santa María de Juncal, scored by 1 1/4 lengths over Malandra(Orb). Fernando Olivera trained the filly for Stud La Reina, with José P. García in the saddle.