Portal Maya made the leap forward with a sharp victory in the Handicap Ráfaga

The As de Picas mare delivered a standout performance on the Palermo dirt, securing the best victory of her career

Portal Maya once again proved unbeatable over the Palermo dirt / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Just 11 days after finishing runner-up at San Isidro, the improving Portal Maya showed that repeated effort was no obstacle, emerging as one of the standout performers on Monday’s card at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo with a strong victory in the Handicap Ráfaga, run over 2200 meters.

The switch from turf to dirt—forced by heavy rain—could not have suited the Stud As de Picas mare any better. Back on the main Palermo track, where she had posted two solid allowance wins in recent months, she once again looked right at home.

Carrying a light 53 kilos, the daughter of Portal del Alto and Improvista (Editor’s Note)—a half-sister to champion Il Mercato (Not for Sale)—settled well off the pace early as Foggy of Song (Sixties Song, 55.5 kilos) set a committed tempo up front. Jockey Francisco Lavigna began to reel in the leaders around the far turn, angling the winner out into a clean outside path at the top of the stretch.

Once she leveled off, Portal Maya proved unstoppable. She collared the longtime leader at the 250-meter mark and steadily edged away, crossing the wire one length in front in a final time of 2:19.00. Another three lengths back came Existing (Winning Prize, 54 kilos) in third, while favored Argomasa (Lucullan, 58 kilos) finished a well-beaten sixth.

Bred by Haras El Wing and trained by Franco Scarpello, Portal Maya earned the fifth win of her 16-start career and continues to progress over intermediate and extended distances—enough to suggest she may be ready to step into stakes company next season.