Weight No Obstacle as Lagoa Azul Extends Her Dominance

Carrying the top weight of 62 kilos, Lagoa Azul scores her fourth straight win at Palermo

Lagoa Azul strikes again at Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Showing no signs of struggle under a hefty 62-kilogram impost, Lagoa Azul (Lenovo) continued her dominance down the Palermo straight, securing her fourth consecutive victory with a determined score in friday's Handicap Spiny (1000m, dirt). The filly, who remains undefeated in the colors of Stud Don Roque, dropped from the stakes ranks, where she had dazzled in back-to-back performances.

For the 2.20 favorite, the toughest part of the day was getting into the gate rather than the race itself. She proved fractious at the start, raising concerns that she might be scratched. However, once the stalls opened, she was all business, surging to the front from the outset, shifting across the track towards the outside rail, and dictating terms with her imposing 531-kilogram frame.

Always game, Jugadoraza (Winning Prize, 54.5kg) chased willingly but had to settle for second, finishing one length back, while Eleven Mile (Il Campione, 58.5kg) rounded out the trifecta, another two lengths adrift. The final time of 54.98 was sharp, reaffirming Lagoa Azul’s class.

Bred by Haras Gran Muñeca and trained by José Iván Malvassora, the filly once again had Cristian Velázquez in the irons. “I’m really happy for her and for everyone behind her,” the rider told local TV. “She felt great, and though we had the question mark about the weight, she’s big and gives everything.” On the pre-race gate drama, he added: “She loaded perfectly last time, but today was different. Big thanks to the gate crew for their help in getting her to run.”

Out of La Añera Key (Key Deputy), Lagoa Azul now boasts six wins from 19 starts, with earnings of $36,155,000 pesos. With her form surging, all eyes turn to the G1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires on May 1, where she could test herself against Argentina’s top sprinters.