Mi Confesión and Carmensita Hit the Board and Inspire Future Dreams

The former ran second in a tough allowance at Santa Anita Park, while the latter made a stellar United States debut by finishing third in another conditional event, this time at Saratoga

Marketplaceofideas Left Carmensita in Third at Saratoga / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

It was a weekend that left a favorable balance for the Argentine runners in the United States, with two mares who, little by little, are beginning to promise excellent news for the future.

On one hand, at Santa Anita Park, Mi Confesión (Suggestive Boy) confirmed her positive acclimatization process by finishing second in a tough allowance, following a victory in her previous outing; on the other, making her North American debut, Carmensita (Treasure Beach) finished third in a fiercely competitive conditional event at Saratoga, during the Belmont Stakes (G1) festival. The disappointment came from Pulp Fiction (Daddy Long Legs), heroine of the 2024 Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (G1) at Palermo, who failed once again, this time making her debut under the care of Phil D'Amato in the exact same race contested by Mi Confesión.

An allowance optional claiming race with an $80,000 tag and a purse of $68,000, contested over 1600 meters on the turf, featured Mi Confesión as the pacesetter, rationing her speed as much as she could. Once in the straight, the defender of the interests of Mike Repole and his Repole Racing attempted to resist, but deep stretch, Baltic Fire (Flameaway) mastered her to win by 1 1/3 lengths in a final time of 1m39s6/100 over firm ground.

Pulp Fiction, for her part, always traveled in mid-pack and failed to improve much in front of the grandstands, finishing in seventh position, 6 1/4 lengths back, and will now have to await another opportunity.

Meanwhile, on the turf at Saratoga, and within an allowance race with a $120,000 purse to distribute, Carmensita's performance was highly encouraging. In her first start since finishing second to Doña Vainilla (Il Campione) in the Gran Premio Enrique Acebal (G1) last October, and now under the care of Horacio de Paz, the daughter of Treasure Beachdisplayed an interesting turn of foot to close strongly and finish third—dead-heating for that position—behind the English-bred Marketplaceofideas (Lope de Vega), beaten 2 3/4 lengths over 1700 meters on firm turf.

In a tough field, Carmensita made up ground at the end, suggesting that when the distances stretch out, and with the layoff out of the way, she will be seen at an even better level than what she displayed.

Just like Winston (Forge) last week, Mi Confesión and Carmensita are names from which future victories can be expected. For Pulp Fiction, meanwhile, the opportunities are beginning to run out.