Zaatar proved full of heart and claimed the Handicap Potrillazo
- Turf Diario
- 21 minutes ago
- 2 min read
After returning in the Clásico 9 de Julio (G2), he stepped down in class to rediscover the winning column
Following an acceptable comeback performance in the demanding Clásico 9 de Julio (G2) over the San Isidro turf, Zaatar (56 1/2 kg) stepped down a notch in class and found his way back into the winner's circle. It happened this Monday in the Handicap Potrillazo (1,400m, normal dirt), the feature event on the card at Hipódromo Palermo that honored the unforgettable champion of Stud Tori, who later became a stallion and an outstanding broodmare sire.
It was no easy task for the son of Hurricane Cat to secure the victory, as he faced stiff opposition from Lochness (Le Ken, 53 1/2) and Amiguito Don José (Todo Un Amiguito, 56), overcoming them by a narrow margin in a hard-fought finish.
Zaatar joined Stud Las Monjitas, his current owner, in mid-2025 after being purchased in training from Stud Valentina. However, since then, he had struggled to reward that confidence with results, largely unable to maintain racing continuity. He has made just three starts since the barn switch, winning two of them, though he is yet to reach the stakes level he promised as a juvenile.
Nevertheless, it is never too late, and the chestnut appears to have taken a solid first step down that path, demonstrating grit to prevail by a head and a neck over two rivals who sold their defeat dearly, stopping the clock at 1:25.51—one of the best times on an afternoon with a demanding track, a rarity at this stage of the season.
Trained by Carlos D. Etchechoury and bred by Héctor Fioruccio, Zaatar had a superb partner in jockey Kevin Banegas, who showed patience when timing his move and delivered a strong, relentless ride to hold the lead once he grabbed it.
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