Top-tier performer Jugador Top delivered exactly as expected, demonstrating that there’s plenty of talent to dream big

The star from Santiago del Estero made her official debut and left no doubts: she won by 8 lengths in 57.38 seconds, leaving the impression that her story is only just beginning

Jugador Top didn’t give her all, and still she cruised to an 8-length victory / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Several heartwarming stories emerged from last weekend’s racing, the kind that, in the rush of breaking news, tend to get a bit overlooked but never forgotten. What lingers in the wings always finds its moment to be told.

On Sunday at Palermo, the second division of the Premio Nuevo Look for 4-year-old maiden horses might have seemed low-key on the card, but among the runners was a name that had generated plenty of excitement from the interior of the country.

That horse was Jugador Top, making his official debut after gaining considerable fame in Santiago del Estero, where he had already notched several victories. The locally contested Milagros de Mailin and Laboratorios HNT Stakes were already in his ledger, and he came off a win in the Clásico David Lucas Tarchini—ridden then by Gustavo Calvente—where he also captured the Madre de Ciudadres.

Sent off as the favorite, the gray responded brilliantly, asserting himself over the 12 rivals in the field, unbothered by the muddy track or the lights. At the wire, he had put 8 lengths between himself and El Tartero (Aspire)—a margin that would have been even greater had Calvente pushed him to the limit. His final time was an eye-catching 57.38 seconds.

A 565-kilogram powerhouse, Jugador Top was bred and races for Stud-Haras Tradición. While presented by Roberto A. Latorre, he is conditioned by Francisco Muratore, a man with vast experience in the interior and a long list of successes at major tracks.

The colt is by champion Winning Prize out of Qué Buena Jugadora (Qué Vida Buena), making him a full brother to the talented Jugadoraza, who has already won three times and posted a lengthy list of stakes placings at sprint distances. Just last Monday, Qué Buena Jugadora foaled a filly by Le Blues named Jugadora Top, already sparking high hopes at the Bertero family’s stud. The farm, which has been making waves with just a few crops, continues to deliver exciting news ahead of its Annual Sale, where the entire 2023 crop will be offered.

Jugador Top executed everything perfectly in the interior, took a flawless first step in official racing, and many see the makings of a future star—another homegrown speedster ready to carve out a path to glory.