The Pelligrini has run, the crowd has thinned, and I am exhausted. What an experience!

The passion of the Argentine people is rich in this game. Horses are very important in Argentina, and I am feeling grateful that I had a chance to see these horses from the perspective of the portenos.

Most of us can relate to the feeling of standing at Churchill Downs and listening to “My Old Kentucky Home.” Multiply that by ten and you get the experience of hearing the Granaderos play the national anthem of Argentina before the Pelligrini horses reach the walking ring.

Granaderos are a unit of the Argentine military, where gray horses are ridden by colorfully dressed soldiers in traditional uniforms. The horses stood motionless as the mounted band played not only the anthem, but two additional songs, “Cazadores al Paso” and “San Lorenzo,” in front of the crowd of over 60,000 people.

The race was spectacular, as twenty three magnificent horses navigated the one-turn mile and a half. My pick, Veraneio, missed by a nose as Expressive Halo refused to relinquish his lead. Soon after the winners circle was packed with emotional connections, thrilled to accomplish such a feat.

I am headed to dinner now, well aware that I might not see my entree’ till half past eleven. But, delighted that I witnessed first-hand South America’s greatest race.

Ciao

Another very interesting day in Argentina. Thank goodness for the “cafe con leche” and the “media lunas” (croissants with a sweet glaze) to get the day started. It is true that dinners in Buenos Aires run late into the night. At restaurants the food often doesn’t reach the table until at least 11:00pm.

I promised a bit of inside information yesterday on the contenders, so here goes…

Star Runner – The son of Southern Halo, is trained by the old school “entrenador” Ernesto Romero. Romero is like a combination of Mel Stute and Bobby Frankel, with a bit of D. Wayne Lukas thrown in. His colt won the Estrellas Classic last June (the Breeders’ Cup Classic of South America) and hasn’t started since. The blood bay has been nursing a sore foot, but Romero feels like he’s ready to go. Star Runner worked in 1:00 flat on the innermost training track this week, which is considered very fast for that dirt oval. This is a top-class horse in South America and should be respected.

Veraneio – This big bay looks incredible. I visited with the Brazilian contingent on Friday morning and when they kindly led the colt out of his box for us to see I was smiling from ear to ear. Wow, and this is only a 3 year-old. He will only get bigger and stronger and he’s big and strong now. Veraneio has a very strong looking back and hind end, a big barrel, and reminds me of my all-time favorite horse, who is also Brazilian and a dual Grade I winner, Siphon. His trainer, Estanislau Petrochinski, Jr. won the Pelligrini last year with Xin Xu Lin, and said that this horse is just as talented. Veraneio is my pick in the Pelligrini.

Val Champ — A son of Val Royal, Val Champ, for trainer Jorge Valdivieso is a steel gray color and is not extremely big. His trainer was a jockey here in Argentina for 33 years, and was leading rider in the country eight times. Val Champ was disqualified twice in his career, including last time out in the Group I Gran Premio Nacional. Valdivieso says that the colt loses attention when he passes horses, and crossed the wire first last time out in very easy fashion. Val Champ threw one of his brand new shoes Friday morning while galloping a mile and a half. His trainer says the foot is ok, and that Val Champ loves any distance past a mile and a quarter.

Jumbalaya — Just 3 years-old, this tall bay filly beat the boys last time out in the Gr. I Gran Premio Copa de Oro at San Isidro. She is just the kind of filly that you would picture in a classic painting, tall, angular, regal, and plain bay. She looks so good that it was hard to take my eyes off of her. The interesting part is that the connections feel more confident in the chances of her stablemate, Video Game, who has been working extremely well in the morning. The listed trainer, Humberto Paez, is actually the assistant trainer to Jose Alvez, who is serving a suspension.

Good luck in the Pelligrini, and remember to watch it live on HRTV at 5:40 ET. I will be sending interviews and reports in the hour leading up, and catching up with the winning connections after.

Ciao