The pace up front proved unsustainable, and Rugiente did not let the opportunity slip away

Atrevido Electric and Señor Moon came flying late, but the son of Il Campione was a whirlwind through the stretch to capture the Handicap Mesa Alvear at 1200 meters

Rugiente and the winning post—a snapshot of his triumph / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The Handicap Mesa Alvear (1200 meters, dirt, fast)—the feature on another modest Wednesday card at San Isidro—unfolded with blazing speed up front, setting the table for the closers to take full advantage. That set the stage for Rugiente (57 kg.) to pounce, scoring an emphatic victory and finally returning to the winner’s circle after a lengthy drought.

The son of Il Campione, whose last win came Nov. 29, 2024, in Palermo’s Clásico Jorge Valdivieso, showed his best once again, powering home with determination after Atrevido Electric (Electricity) and Señor Moon (E Dubai, 55) went head-to-head early through unsustainable fractions of :22.74 and :45.39.

Once straightened for home, Señor Moon folded almost immediately, while Atrevido Electric held on briefly before fading. By then, jockey Martín Valle had angled Rugiente into the clear, always racing third in reserve. When asked, the Luis Santiago Bedoya trainee surged strongly past the leaders, drawing off with authority and easing late.

At the wire, Rugiente held a six-length margin over Payucano (Mask, 57), with Mario’s Rim (Remote, 53) another length back in third. Atrevido Electric checked in fourth, while the favorite Say It Fast (Cosmic Trigger, 56.5) failed to fire despite ideal conditions on paper. Señor Moon trailed home a furlong behind, as the clock stopped in 1:09.67.

Bred by Haras El Paraíso and carrying the colors of Stud Rompe Paga, Rugiente—originally named Embrujo Azteca—was celebrating his eighth victory from 28 starts, his fifth at the stakes level, while pushing his earnings to 40,325,200 pesos.

Out of Aztec Gold (Angiolo), who has also produced two other winners, Rugiente hails from a productive family that includes stakes winner Silvalandria (Sebi Halo) and is related to the likes of El Darwin (Il Campione), Mama Call(Bahiaro), Hauswagen (Housebuster), and Es de Temer (Il Campione).