Through the years, the names that built the legend of the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini
- Turf Diario
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Trainers and jockeys who left their mark on the most emblematic race in Argentine and South American racing
By Diego H. Mitagstein
The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1) is more than just a race—it is a barometer of Argentine racing history at its highest level. For more than a century, its roll of honor has told a story not only of exceptional horses, but also of trainers and jockeys who, through talent, consistency, and vision, managed to prevail time and again on the most demanding stage of the calendar. Icons. Legends.
Among trainers, two names stand above the rest with absolute authority. Alfredo F. Gaitán Dassié and Juan Lapistoyshare the all-time record with six victories apiece, though achieved in very different contexts.
Lapistoy was a central figure in a formative era, collecting victories from the 1940s through the 1960s, while Gaitán Dassié extended his influence across more than three decades—from 1988 through 2020—accomplishing something reserved for very few: remaining relevant across multiple generations of the sport.
Lapistoy reached glory with Filón (Full Sail, 1944 and 1945), Doubltess (Cute Eyes, 1947), El Centauro (Sideral, 1963), Forli (Aristophanes, 1966), and Rafale (Court Harwell, 1967).Gaitán Dassié, meanwhile, shone with Montubio (Mountdrago), Seaborg (Candy Stripes, 1995), Interaction (Easing Along, 2009), Ídolo Porteño (Jump Start, 2014), Sixties Song (Sixties Icon, 2016), and Cool Day (John F Kennedy, 2020).
Close behind is Sergio Lema, with four victories concentrated in a remarkably short span (1962–1971), a testament to his dominance during a fiercely competitive decade. Further down the list—but with enormous historical weight—are Juan R. de la Cruz, who captured three Pellegrinis in the 1950s and 1960s, and Carlos D. Etchechoury, whose three wins came nearly two decades apart (2005, 2008, and 2022), underscoring his ability to adapt across eras and very different horses.
Alfredo Gaitán Dassié will not be represented this Saturday, though his son Nicolás Gaitán will saddle Herald News(Equal Stripes). Carlos D. Etchechoury, meanwhile, will send out no fewer than four runners—all with legitimate chances: Real Rim (Remote), The Gladiator’s Hat (Hat Ninja), Equal Mostaza (Equal Stripes), and Out of the Blue(Brz–Drosselmeyer).
If the trainer builds the road, it is the jockey who must turn the plan into reality over the most demanding 2400 meters in the country. And here, one name towers above all others: Irineo Leguisamo. The Uruguayan legend captured an astonishing 10 editions of the Pellegrini, a record that seems destined to remain untouchable—emblematic of an era in which his mere presence signaled class and authority.
Behind him, with four victories each, are figures of immense stature such as Máximo Acosta, Pablo Falero, Edwin Talaverano, and Domingo Torterolo—all now retired, all products of different eras and styles, but united by their ability to deliver when the pressure was absolute. The list continues with illustrious names who posted three wins apiece: Francisco Arcuri, Juan Carlos Noriega, Jorge Ricardo, and Martín Valle—the latter three still active—riders who also penned unforgettable chapters in the history of the great race.
Martín Valle has won three of the last four editions and will shoulder the responsibility of guiding Real Rim, the Jockey Club hero and one of this year’s leading contenders. Juan Carlos Noriega, meanwhile, will partner the progressive Vota Bien (Hi Happy), with both jockeys hoping to climb another rung on the Pellegrini ladder.
Ultimately, the Pellegrini does more than crown horses—it consecrates careers. And these trainers and jockeys, with numbers that speak for themselves, are an essential part of the DNA of a race that remains the ultimate dream of Argentine racing.
