Miss Talento and a sustained late charge that paid off in the best possible way

The Stud Lagrange mare edged home by a narrow margin in the Handicap Nigromante, run over 1800 meters on a heavy dirt track

Miss Talento asserted her dominance in the final furlong / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

A rain-soaked, unseasonable Thursday unfolded at the Hipódromo de San Isidro, where the Handicap Nigromante (1800m, heavy dirt) delivered a thrilling finish and Miss Talento justified strong market support with a hard-fought victory.

The Stud Lagrange mare, coming off a distant fourth in the G2 Los Haras, shouldered topweight of 58.5 kilos, yet the impost proved no obstacle as she reeled in the progressive Portal Maya (Portal del Alto, 53) and the front-running Expert Advice (Il Campione, 56.5), all three crossing the wire tightly grouped.

Gonzalo Borda opted to switch off the daughter of Equal Talent early, in a race that saw Expert Advice dictating terms with Portal Maya in close attendance. Fractions of :25.26 and :48.56 set up a moderate early tempo, but once they reached the far turn, the field began to bunch and the pressure intensified.

Turning for home, the leader edged into the straight with Portal Maya ranging up toward mid-track. Borda, meanwhile, had already asked his motionless mount for more—and she responded with a long, sustained and even charge.

The drama held until the final furlong, where Miss Talento collared and went past, with Portal Maya finishing second three-quarters of a length back, fending off Expert Advice by a head right on the wire. Final time was 1:49.71, with internal splits of 1:12.40 and 1:37.34.

Bred by María I. Solveyra and Cornelio Donovan, and trained at Palermo by María F. Álvarez and Wálter Suárez, the chestnut mare now boasts five career victories from 20 starts, including two at the stakes level. Her previous black-type success came in the Handicap Mouchette on Sept. 1.

Miss Talento is the fourth winner produced by Pura Verdade (Pure Prize), whose best other runner to date is Valid Price (Valid Stripes), a three-time winner and third in the Especial Angel Oscar Baratucci.