Teobaldo Won by Demolition to Close Out a Triple Crown Crying Out for Help
The son of Uncle Chuck dominated by 6 lengths in the Clásico Provincia de Buenos Aires (G3), over 2200 meters. The final leg of the La Plata sophomore process gathered just 5 runners and offered a winner's purse of a mere $10,240,000 pesos
Teobaldo did what he had to do. He rode smartly, capitalized on the experience built up over recent months, and ultimately resolved the Clásico Provincia de Buenos Aires (G3-2200 m, dirt)—the final leg of the La Plata Triple Crown—with unquestioned superiority. His 6-length victory was welcome news for the colt and his connections, but it was not enough to mask the troubling reality of a series that looks increasingly diminished.
With just 5 confirmed starters and a winner's share of $10,240,000 pesos, the historic contest projected an image that is hard to justify. That purse is meager for a group race and for the prestige the event once held, while the small field exposed yet again the deep challenges facing the local classic process.
None of that diminishes the merit of Teobaldo, who found at El Bosque the ideal setting to rebuild a campaign that had suffered a severe setback when he failed in the Gran Criterium (G1) at San Isidro. Following that misstep, the Stud La Frontera runner pivoted: he finished second in the Clásico Isidoro Aramburú (G3), won the Clásico José Pedro Ramírez (G3), and finished third over 2000 meters in the Clásico Jockey Club de la Provincia de Buenos Aires(G3). Now, with two additional furlongs to cover, he showed that the added distance suited him perfectly.
Kevin Banegas was in no hurry. He kept the bay trailing in the rear while Licitador (Forge) took the initiative and established daylight over Kandahar (Gershwin), setting what appeared to be an even tempo. The exact fractional splits are, of course, guesswork: the La Plata teletimer has been out of order for months, another anomaly that has quietly become part of the local landscape.
Reaching the far turn, Teobaldo began making his move along the inside and was already in second, right on the heels of a Licitador that had managed to break away from the rest of the field. But the leader's resistance lasted only until the eventual winner launched his bid on the outside. Near the 250-meter mark, he took command with absolute ease and, from there to the wire, did nothing but widen the margin without Banegas needing to ask for maximum effort.
Licitador, who was coming off a maiden victory, put in a brave effort. He dared to take charge, left the rest behind, and comfortably held onto second place, 3 lengths clear of Fuerte y Claro (Daniel Boone). The official winning time was 2m18s75/100.
Bred by Haras Santa Inés, Teobaldo belongs to the first of only two crops left in Argentina by Uncle Chuck and is the second foal out of Joy Tesalina (Fortify), one of the top fillies of her generation and winner of the Clásico Manuel J. Güiraldes (G3). His female line, deeply rooted in Haras La Quebrada bloodlines, features prominent names like Teóloga (Southern Halo), Forty Teórica (Roar), and Thundery Terrific (Thunder Gulch), providing strong pedigree backing to the new group winner.
The official training duties were handled by Cristian Villabona, long-time assistant to Nicolás Martín Ferro, who oversees the colt's preparation. In recent outings, Enrique Martín Ferro had appeared as trainer of record due to his son's suspension; now, with Quique also serving a provisional suspension, Villabona stepped into the role.
What lies ahead for Teobaldo? Two paths emerge on the horizon: staying at La Plata to face older horses in the Gran Premio Dardo Rocha (G1), or testing his luck in the Gran Premio Nacional (G1) at Palermo. The second option looks particularly intriguing given the departure of several division leaders and the suspension of Fletcher (Gershwin), though it leaves a slightly tighter turnaround time. The Gran Premio Dardo Rocha, meanwhile, would allow him to stay on a track where he has found rhythm and results.
The La Plata Triple Crown concluded without a dominant figure: Autorretrato (Angiolo) took the Polla de Potrillos, Cahuel Win captured the Clásico Jockey Club, and Teobaldo claimed the Clásico Provincia de Buenos Aires. Three different winners across a series plagued by insufficient purses and dwindling field sizes.
The decline goes far deeper than an isolated edition. The Clásico Provincia de Buenos Aires was a G1 contest until just a few seasons ago, later downgraded to G2, and today survives as a G3. If track authorities do not take concrete action to defend their traditional fixtures, it is hard to imagine the slide stopping here. Teobaldo lived up to history; the organization, once again, fell short.
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