Rugiente Shows His Class, Filoso Class Back Among the Top Ranks

They were the standouts of an unusual Thursday afternoon on the Palermo dirt, capturing the Rubén E. Laitán and Sorteado Handicaps

Rugiente let his class do the talking in the Rubén E. Laitán Handicap / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Two seasoned campaigners took center stage on Thursday afternoon at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo. On one hand, Rugiente made his 59.5 kilos of topweight count to extend his fine current form and prevail in the Rubén E. Laitán Handicap (1200 meters, dirt). On the other, Filoso Class bounced back to the spotlight as an outsider, landing the Sorteado Handicap (1000 meters, dirt).

A true specialist over six furlongs, Rugiente continues to add valuable victories to an already accomplished résumé. Sent off the heavy favorite, the son of Il Campione proved unstoppable in the race honoring the beloved and unforgettable jockey.

Martín Valle rode the Luis S. Bedoya trainee to perfection, mindful of both the wide draw and the impost. While Lobo Viejo (Cosmic Trigger, 52.5 kilos) set the early fractions, the bay settled just behind the first flight.

Once into the stretch, as Príncipe Soñado (Fragotero, 59) slipped through on the rail to take command, Valle steadily brought Rugiente into contention without rushing him. Only inside the final 150 meters did he call for the decisive effort, and Rugiente responded gamely, getting up in the final strides to defeat that rival by three-quarters of a length. Decan Dall (Víctor Security, 54) grabbed third by a head, stopping the clock in 1:11.23.

Now a winner of nine races from 29 starts, Rugiente has amassed earnings of more than 46 million pesos.

The Sorteado Handicap, meanwhile, marked a return to prominence for Filoso Class, an 8-year-old son of Filoso Emperor who had once shined at the stakes level. Under Rodrigo Bascuñán, he surged late to collar Bizarrap (Forge, 51) by half a head on the wire, after that rival had briefly headed topweight En Un Rincón (Manipulator, 62), who held third by half a length. Opreso (Endorsement, 60), the favorite, checked in fourth, 2½ lengths back, with the final time reading 58.33.

It was the 11th career win for the bay prepared by José M. Berdezagar, racing in the colors of Paso de Piedra Stable.