Idolo Porteno dominates Pellegrini, could join McAnally

Idolo Porteno, a five-length winner of last month's Gran Premio Dardo Rocha

on dirt at La Plata, transferred his good form to the turf in Saturday's Group 1

Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro, which is the race of the year on

the South American calendar.

With rain falling over the grounds, Idolo Porteno edged clear of last year's

winner Soy Carambolo by four lengths, with three-year-old Must Go On a neck

behind in third.

Under a masterful ride from the continent's winningest jockey, Brazilian

Jorge Ricardo, Idolo Porteno split horses circling the final turn, assumed

command in midstretch and pulled away late en route to a dominant victory. Idolo

Porteno became the first horse in 13 years, since Second Reality in 2001, to win

the continent's marquee race off a victory in the Dardo Rocha. The win marked

Ricardo's third Pellegrini winner following his earlier success with Brazilian

standout Much Better in 1994 and Gorylla in 2003.

If not sold to foreign interests in the immediate future, Idolo Porteno could

potentially be sent up North and be aimed at an international campaign with Hall

of Fame trainer Ron McAnally in Southern California. His win Saturday also makes

him a serious candidate for champion older horse and Argentinean Horse of the

Year.

The victory also capped off a Group 1 double for Buenos Aires trainer Alfredo

Gaitan Diassie, who earlier in the day saddled the unbeaten three-year-old filly

Pretty Girl to a brilliant score in the Gran Premio Copa de Plata for the

Brazilian international operation Stud Rio Dois Irmaos.

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