The first automatic paid parking for the Breeders Cup ‘2022 will be awarded this Saturday in Argentina when the G1 Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini, also known as the ‘Arc of South America’, is held at Hipodromo de San Isidro history. The winner will win tickets to the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, to be held in 2022 in Keeneland.
Competing at more than 2,400 meters, about a mile and a half, on the vast San Isidro turf with a run of about three times, Pellegrini won last year in a thrilling three-way rail match. Cool day (Arg) (John F Kennedy {Ire}) (video), who returned to defend his title. Bred by historic Haras Abolengo farm, the 4-year-old chestnut was benched for more than 10 months following his 2020 Pellegrini scores, ruling out a Breeders’ Cup try, but came back with a win. 3 1/2 in the G1 Gran Premio Copa de Oro here on October 30.
The most important race in South America, the Pellegrini is named after Carlos Enrique Jose Pellegrini, the first president of the Argentine Jockey Club and one of the founding members when it was founded in 1882. The race was first held in 1887, as the International Grand Prix, over 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles) with consecutive Stiletto to win in 3:27 2/5. It quickly achieved its ‘international’ record, with French rider Athos II winning the title in 1890 and 1892. In general, horses bred in countries other than Argentina won. won Pellegrini 17 times, with Brazilian Nao da Mais (TH approved) being the most recent successful invader in 2019. The race regularly attracts horses from Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.
During the grand finale of the racing season in Argentina, Pellegrini held $200,000 in hand and unofficially awarded the title of best horse in South America. It was the title of the ‘International Day’ at San Isidro, which also featured the 2,000-meter G1 Gran Premio Copa de Plata, similar to the GI Breeders ‘Cup Distaff or the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, the 1,600-meter G1 Gran Premio Joaquin S. de Anchorena, similar to GI Breeders’ Cup Mile and 1,000 meter G1 Gran Premio Alzaga Unzue, similar to GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Anchorena was won by names familiar to US racing fans, including the legendary Candy Ride (Arg) (Ride the Rails) and Lord At War (Arg) (General {Fr}) as well as 2014 GI hero Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. Won the (Arg) (Pure Prize).
Pellegrini is also a major social event on Argentina’s calendar, with tens of thousands of people, including many famous Argentine personalities, flocking to San Isidro for the annual race. The attendance record was set in 1986 when over 100,000 people came to watch the undefeated Fain (Arg) (Dancing Moss {GB}) win the trophy and around 60,000 are expected to attend this year.
Uruguayan racer Irineo Leguisamo, considered the most decorated South American racer of the 20th century, holds the record for most victories at Pellegrini with 10 from 1924 to 1962; No other rider has won more than four. Juan Lapistoy and Alfredo Gaitan Dassie share the record for most Pellegrini conquests by one coach with six each. Cool Day coach Gaitan Dassie has a chance to take the record for himself on Saturday. Fourteen fillings and mares defeated the boys at Pellegrini, and there were deadly fights for victory in 1915 and 1923.
Other contenders in this year’s run include the respectable 7-year-old boy Village King (Arg) (Campanologist), who ran in the United States in 2018 and 2019, took the score in Red Smith S. 2018 and finished third in the GII Pan American S. the following spring. This year, he is unbeaten in three starts on the San Isidro turf, picking a winning pair of Group 1 in the 2,000-meter Gran Premio Martinez de Hoz and the 2,400-meter Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (video). Mirinaque (Arg) (Hurricane Cat) also prides itself on the success of its US classified holdings. Although unbeaten since entering the Argentina G1 Derby in 2019, he finished second in last year’s GII Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance S. at Keeneland in the Breeders’ Cup and was a close runner-up to the Village King in Gran Premio 25 de Mayo. Overall, 19 horses were entered into the field.
Carlos Pellegrini will be the final event of Saturday’s 13-race card in San Isidro with a scheduled posting time of 7:35 local time (5:35 p.m. ET).
