Quebracho Joy, the New Rising Star for Team El Exito

While they await the next outing of their star runner, Martín Valle and José C. Blanco celebrated with the dark bay from Stud Voy Por Todo, who shone brightly in the Clásico Japón (L)

Quebracho Joy is made of the right stuff / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

While waiting for another outing from their star El Exito (Il Campione), who is entered to run in the Clásico Perú (G2), the duo of jockey Martín Valle and trainer José C. Blanco have found a new name to fuel their dreams of big days ahead.

After a solid campaign in the allowance ranks and stepping onto the Palermo turf for the first time in his career, Quebracho Joy delivered an impeccable stakes debut, capturing Monday’s Clásico Japón (L) over the inner course, which once again showed its poor condition, as it has for the past year when important races are moved there.

Navigating blotches and treacherous patches with confidence, the son of Fortify executed his late-closing style to perfection, rallying from last to first in the stretch to catch pacesetter Approval Cat (Endorsement) in the final furlong, pulling clear by two lengths in a time of 1:25.63.

Another four lengths back came El Gazpacho (Bodemeister), whose run lacked punch, while Don Rocky (Equal Stripes) checked in fourth, 1 1/2 lengths further behind. Mr Neil (Valid Stripes) finished detached at the rear after being restrained by jockey Kevin Banegas midway down the lane, opening a question mark about his future just when he seemed to have found peak form.

Bred by Haras Santa Inés and racing for Stud Voy Por Todo of Tandil, Quebracho Joy became Fortify’s 65th stakes winner in Argentina. He is the second foal out of Queen Diana (Orpen), a half-sister to G1 winner Quirico (Jump Start). His second dam, Queen Halo (Southern Halo), is a half-sister to none other than Invasor (Candy Stripes).

Quebracho Joy now boasts 4 wins from 13 starts, never finishing worse than fourth, with earnings of 39,093,750 pesos, 11,700,000 of which he earned on Monday. One notable fact: his last 11 races have all been over 1400 meters.

The next mission for this promising bay will be to step up to the mile – precisely the comfort zone of stablemate El Exito.