The class of Escolastic Girl prevailed in the Inés Victorica Roca

The Nicolás Gaitán trainee took another solid step forward in her rise, leaving all her rivals convincingly behind

Escolastic Girl’s turn of foot was spectacular / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

With an impressively solid performance, Escolastic Girl made it clear that her best is still yet to come, capturing the G3 Inés Victorica Roca (1600m, dirt) to close out the stakes double on an entertaining Monday card at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo.

Running for Stud Haras Pozo de Luna, she did something difficult: made an evenly matched race look easy. Her class has never been in doubt, but this victory marked an important milestone. Until now, her best wins had come at La Plata, but this time she brought that excellent form to the capital, defeating four proven rivals—fillies and mares likely to be featured in future headlines.

With Martín La Palma in the irons—the jockey who knows her best—she was coming off a five-length comeback win in the G3 Joaquín V. Maqueda at La Plata following her frustrating Maroñas venture. Here, she replicated that margin, defeating Maga Zulu (Equal Talent) by five lengths in this tribute race named after Baby, one of the historic ladies of Argentine turf and the matriarch behind Haras Ojo de Agua.

Traveling strongly throughout, the Suggestive Boy filly tracked pacesetter Elvitas (Cosmic Trigger), who set honest fractions of 24.67, 48.10, and 1:12.23. But once into the stretch, the imposing bay (who weighed in at 532 kg) quickened decisively, took over after switching leads, and steadily pulled clear.

Closing ground along the inside from the rear, Maga Zulu secured second, while favorite Garbiñe (Lucullan) was another two lengths back in third. Elvitas and Ethereum (Portal del Alto) completed the field, a half-neck and three-quarters of a length further back, respectively. Final time was 1:36.91.

Bred by Haras La Esperanza and representing the Gaitán Team, headed by Nicolás (who saddled her) and Alfredo Gaitán, Escolastic Girl is a half-sister to Empiric Twice (Emperor Richard), a durable runner who captured the Handicap El Centauro.