Nevado Catedral and Citadelle Aim for the ESTRELLAS

The colt and the filly turned in commanding performances over the dirt mile at Palermo, and the late-June stakes series may well be next on their radar

Nevado Catedral Won Easily and in a Blazing Time / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

There was more to Saturday’s card at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo than the unexpected win by Tormenta China(Malenchini) in the Clásico España (L). The 3-year-olds also had their moment over the dirt mile, with the Carreras de las Estrellas now looming on the horizon.

Colts were first to the post in the Premio Infinita Fe, where the third time proved the charm for Nevado Catedral, who became the fourth winner for first-crop sire Gouverneur Morris (Constitution), the same stallion who on Thursday celebrated a G1 double thanks to Roshita and Amor de Contramano.

Like those two, Nevado Catedral was bred by Haras La Pasión and campaigns for Stud Disco Eterno. He improved off a pair of fourth-place efforts to score with authority, racing early alongside The Great Forest (The Great Day), taking command midway around the turn, and drawing off in the lane to score by 4 lengths over debutant Altimus (Equal Stripes).

Sent off as the bettors’ choice, the grey is trained by Nicolás Martín Ferro, was ridden by Francisco Leandro, and is out of Nivología (Easing Along), third in the Clásico Wilfredo Latham (L) and from the same female family as G1 sprinter Knock (Luhuk) and Notable Island (Lizard Island), winner of the G3 Clásico Jockey Club de la Provincia de Buenos Aires earlier this year.

Nevado Catedral stopped the clock in a sharp 1:34.53, a noticeably faster time than that of the filly Citadelle (Fortify), who captured the Premio Jane Cash a short while later.

Bred and raced by Vacación, trained by José Luiz Correa Aranha (presented by Marina López Bragante), and partnered by Juan Cruz Villagra, the chestnut tracked early leader La Watson (Hurricane Cat), took over at the top of the stretch, and coasted home an easy 8-length winner. Favored Ansias de Amor (Cosmic Trigger) showed brief interest but was pulled up by Gustavo Calvente around the 300-meter mark, presumably due to a physical issue.

Citadelle is out of Cita di Luz (Equal Stripes), a stakes winner in the Clásico Family Game and full sister to G1 heroine Cita di Rio and G2-placed Citta di Bari (Campanologist).