Martín Valle and Charm Shine in the Juvenile Fillies to Complete a Dream Double for Strategos

The Filly Showed Grit and Versatility to Score Convincingly Over 1600 Meters, Confirming Her G1 Class on Any Surface; Favored Roshita Could Do No Better Than Fourth

Charm Delivers a Brilliant Performance in Her Crowning Moment / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Jockey Martín Valle enjoyed a dream afternoon at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo on Saturday, and it all began with Charm, who stamped herself as the best 2-year-old filly of the season with an outstanding performance in the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile Fillies (G1, 1600m, dirt, ARS 40,000,000 to the winner).

With heavy favorite Roshita (Gouverneur Morris) looking mortal for the first time in her career, it was Triple Alliance’shomebred who stole the spotlight, confirming the talent she had shown just over a month ago when capturing the G1 Gran Premio de Potrancas on San Isidro’s turf course.

Unfazed by the switch in surface and her first start over Palermo’s layout, the chestnut filly handled an unexpected race shape with poise. Roshita set the pace under constant pressure from La Isabelita (Leofric) through moderate early fractions.

Valle, ever astute, kept Charm a bit further back through the opening quarter but, recognizing the tempo, gradually advanced to apply pressure on the undefeated leader midway around the far turn. That sustained pressure proved telling.

As they straightened for home, Roshita could no longer keep up. Charm swept to the lead and drew off with authority to win by three lengths over Queen Elinor (Señor Candy), who closed from the back for second. Another neck back in third came Embrace It (Daddy Long Legs), while Roshita faded tamely to fourth, beaten over nine lengths in a surprising outcome. Final time was 1:36.92 after splits of :24.70, :47.93, and 1:11.94.

The victory marked a stellar training effort by José Cristóbal Blanco and capped a memorable Estrellas double for Strategos (Zensational), the champion sprinter now proving himself a leading freshman sire and one of the standout revelations of the season.