Río Maggio Returns to Winning Ways, Bringing Back Memories of His Best Days

The Winning Prize colt scored impressively in the Handicap Candy Stripes, regaining confidence and looking like the same promising juvenile who once shone in the classics during his prep campaign

Río Maggio Returned to the Winner’s Circle After More Than Two Years / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Once a juvenile standout, Río Maggio (55) regained his confidence and returned to the winner’s circle on Wednesday at Hipódromo de San Isidro, capturing the featured Handicap Candy Stripes (1100m, dirt) in strong fashion.

The day itself was a rather dull affair at the Jockey Club track, far from what July 9th used to be, when the prestigious mile Gran Premio attracted crowds and top-class horses. This year’s card was inexplicably poor, with low-level races wasting the opportunity of a public holiday. Some decisions simply defy understanding, and one wonders if it is even worth trying to make sense of them…

In the race honoring the great sire Candy Stripes, the script unfolded as expected. Candy and Giant (Giant's Pleasure, 61) and Atrevido Electric (Electricity, 61) battled furiously up front, setting sharp fractions of :21.99 and :44.96, expending most of their energy early.

Tracking just behind them was jockey Brian Enrique aboard Río Maggio, keeping him within striking distance, knowing full well that at least one of the pacesetters would falter.

That proved true. Atrevido Electric gave way quickly upon straightening, while Candy and Giant continued to dig in until the final furlong, where she finally felt the toll of the pace. At that point, the son of Winning Prize swept by, defeating Maranelo (Holy Boss, 59) by three-quarters of a length, with the pacesetting mare another head back in third. The final time was a sharp 1:02.89.

Bred by Haras Comalal and making his first start for Stud El Amigo, Río Maggio was celebrating his first victory in over two years, having last won the Clásico Raúl y Raúl E. Chevalier (G2).

Also a winner of the Santiago Luro (G2), runner-up in both the Guillermo Kemmis (G3) and Congreve (L), and third in the Gran Premio Montevideo (G1), Río Maggio is trained by Justo Juan J. Benítez. Perhaps this performance signals his ability to recapture the form that once placed him among the top colts of his generation.