Personal Filly and a Dominant Victory in the Clásico Polla de Potrancas at La Plata
- Turf Diario
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
The daughter of Dabster trained by Juan Saldivia scored by 6 lengths over Siesta on a heavy track in the opening leg of the local Triple Crown
LA PLATA.— When this phase of the season arrives, it feels as though the batteries are fully recharged; hope is renewed, regardless of the backdrop, though its presence is always felt. The most critical stretch of the year is at hand, where victories count double—a battleground that everyone connected to the wonderful world of thoroughbred racing dreams of reaching.
It is no easy feat, of course. Everything must align and, paradoxically, having a talented horse is simply not enough. Luck, health, unforeseen variables, and the weather all play their part so that, once called to the dance, one can truly perform.
This Tuesday at the local oval, racing in this city marked a fresh start for its Triple Crown—a sweep that has lacked a champion since 1995, when Cóndor Cal (Hesical), sporting the silks of Stud-Haras Cumeneyén, captured every single leg.
It began with the Clásico Polla de Potrancas (G2-1,600 m)—with the Clásico Polla de Potrillos (G3) following on Thursday to complete the opening weekend—where Buenos Aires visitor Personal Filly proved unstoppable. She delivered on her high-caliber form while overcoming every obstacle along the way, successfully rebounding from a dismal effort in the Clásico Manuel J. Güiraldes (G3) at Palermo a month ago.
Making her track debut over the local dirt, stretching out to a mile for the first time, and handling a heavy surface, the chestnut filly sailed through without issue. She was slow to find her rhythm early, but once she found her stride, she proved to be a runaway freight train against her 5 rivals, asserting dominance that opens up a bright future ahead.
With Juan Pablo Paoloni in the irons, the daughter of Dabster bided her time back in fifth while Siesta (Cityscape) and Niña Pastori (Fortify) traded turns on the front end, trailed by American Model (Gouverneur Morris) in third. The battle up front, though contested at a sensible tempo, intensified along the turn, which was the cue for the eventual winner to launch her wide bid. Once in the stretch, the favorite needed little time to take command, surging past her rivals to draw off from the field.
Striding home with authority, Personal Filly covered the remaining distance to finish 6 lengths clear of Siesta, who held third-place Niña Pastori at bay by another 2 lengths. Behind them, stringing out in single file, came Salema (Il Mercato), American Model, and Derry (Nicholas) in a race that lacked any real opposition. The final time stopped at 1m39s7/100, a solid clocking given the track condition.
Juan Franco Saldivia conditions the homebred for Wilgerbosdrift, the South African operation owned by Mary Slack that has been breeding locally for some time out of the Sierra de los Padres facilities managed by Alejandro García Romero for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. Now established as the premier filly in La Plata, she had won on debut before finishing a close second to Gran Gotera (Made You Look) in the Gran Premio Jorge de Atucha (G1), credentials that made her a deserving favorite.
Pure Doris (Pure Prize), her dam, was acquired by Wilgerbosdrift during the Haras La Biznaga dispersal, later carrying her new owner's colors to victory in the Clásico Miguel Angel y Tomás Juárez Celma (G2) at Palermo. The mare is out of champion sprinter Forty Doriana (Roar), a half-sister to G1 winner Dionisio Tom (Shy Tom), and traces back to one of the most iconic families of the cherished Haras Ojo de Agua, that of Doria (Advocate).
Personal Filly now faces a choice: returning to Palermo for the Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (G1) or staying home to await the Gran Premio Selección de Potrancas (G1). Both paths carry immense appeal, and she promises to play a starring role whichever way she goes...
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