Priola Delivers Complete Joy for Gustavo Scarpello at Palermo

Breeder, Owner, and Trainer Gustavo Scarpello Celebrates as Priola Excels Over Heavy Ground in the Jorge H. Iglesias Handicap

Priola Had Time to Get Comfortable / HAPSA

It was a clean sweep for Gustavo Scarpello on an unusual Thursday at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, as Priola, the mare he bred, owns, and trains, captured the featured Handicap Jorge H. Iglesias (1800m, dirt) over heavy ground.

Lightly weighted at just 55 kilos and with some valuable placings in the division, the 6-year-old daughter of South Kissing handled the testing conditions perfectly to spring a mild surprise. Ridden confidently by Eduardo Ortega Pavón, she settled off the pace set by Elvi Grace (Southern Cat), who led into the stretch before fading.

As the field straightened for home, It's My Look (Equal Stripes) slipped through along the rail, favorite Miss Talento(Equal Talent) attacked down the center, but wider out came Priola, finishing with a powerful late run to assert in the final furlong and have time to ease down comfortably.

The winning margin was 1 1/2 lengths over Miss Talento, with It's My Look another neck back in third. The final time was 1:52.97 after fractions of :26.17, :50.81, 1:16.28, and 1:40.14. Topweight Cyboogie (Galicado), the class standout, disappointed again to finish fifth.

For Priola, it was the fifth win of her career, carrying deep sentimental value for Scarpello. She descends from Pretty Lady (Sings), a mare he selected and trained, who despite modest results on track became a prolific broodmare with nine winners, including stakes-placed handicap double winner Perhaps You (Alpha Plus), and a productive granddam line headed by Perche (South Kissing), himself a five-time Palermo winner who excelled as a sprinter in the provinces.

With this commanding success, Priola has posed a dilemma for her breeder-owner-trainer: keep her in training for another season or retire her to the broodmare band.