Aiyanna, a Metronome in Top Form, Leads Handicap Carlos Zarlengo

The daughter of Santillano continued her outstanding campaign with another important victory, marking her eighth start of the year

Aiyanna Shifted to the Center of the Track and Proved Unstoppable / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Argentine racing is enjoying the consistency of a true metronome these days in Aiyanna. Making her eighth start of the season—and her third in April—the 6-year-old mare turned in another display of talent and reliability, dominating Saturday's featured Handicap Carlos A. Zarlengo (1200m, dirt) at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo.

Carrying 58 kilos and representing Stud Haras Buen Ojo, the daughter of Santillano delivered one of the most impressive performances of her career, dispatching a tough field with ease and snapping a streak of four consecutive runner-up finishes at the stakes level.

Patiently handled by Martín Valle, the Haras La Pasión-bred sat off a hot early pace set by Una Causa (True Cause) and Bahía Cortines (Manipulator). Swinging wide into the stretch, Aiyanna surged to the lead down the center of the track and quickly kicked clear, hitting the wire four lengths in front of a game Bahía Cortines.

Joy Antumalal (Il Campione) was another half-length back in third, edging out favorite Joy Melódica (Fortify) by a head, with the latter perhaps compromised by her 60.5-kilo impost. Final time for the six furlongs was a sharp 1:10.10 after fractions of :22.61 and :46.90.

Trained by Elizabeth del Carmen Cedeño Heyden, Aiyanna now boasts a record of seven wins from 35 starts, including three handicap victories, and has earned 26,731,300 Argentine pesos to date.

Out of the speedy and G3-placed Arte Troya (Intérprete), Aiyanna hails from a deep family that includes Sa Torreta(Southern Halo), Subsanador (Fortify), and Satu (Catcher In the Rye).