Oro Azteca Capitalizes on Pace Meltdown to Upset in Handicap Haras Don Florentino
- Turf Diario
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
With an inspired Wilfrido Torres Maldonado in the irons, the Marcelo López trainee upset the favorites to notch his first stakes victory, returning a more than generous price
LA PLATA.- Proving as tough as ever, Oro Azteca (56.5 kg) sprang a big surprise in Thursday’s featured Handicap Haras Don Florentino (1000m, dirt) at La Plata, rewarding his backers with a juicy $13.25 payout—the second-highest among the six starters that eventually lined up.
With Beat Me (Cosmic Trigger) and the seasoned Wave Rimout (Remote) scratched, the Stud Nuevo Sueño homebred from Tandil stepped up to the occasion, securing his first stakes success and third overall win. It was only his second attempt at this level, following a fifth-place finish in the Clásico Mariano Moreno.
With a red-hot Wilfrido Torres Maldonado aboard—who would go on to complete a brilliant treble on the day—the Marcelo López trainee capitalized on a speed duel between heavy favorite Yukon Jack (Remote, 60 kg) and Viejos Tiempos Mask (Mask, 57.5 kg), who was considered the main threat on paper, tracking them from just off the pace.
Once in the stretch, Oro Azteca launched a powerful rally from the three path, quickly collared the leaders, and steadily pulled clear to score by two lengths over Viejos Tiempos Mask, with Yukon Jack a further two lengths back in third. Final time was a sharp :58.50, following fractions of :23.52 and :46.57.
Bred by Haras Cañada Rica, Oro Azteca’s pedigree suggests a proclivity for longer distances. His sire, Empire Aztec(Editor's Note), was one of the top colts of his generation, capturing the G2 Polla de Potrillos, G2 Aramburu, and G3 Doyhenard. His dam, Break Point (Bon Point), won six races including the Día del Veterinario and Malvinas Argentinas Handicaps.
But pedigree hasn’t stopped the dark bay from excelling at sprint distances. Just turned four, he’s now showing a level far above what he’d previously displayed—despite a heavy schedule, with 27 starts already under his belt. His connections are simply enjoying the ride. And enjoying it a lot.
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