Another Graded Victory in Venezuela for Argentine-Bred Tuco Salamanca

The Equal Stripes colt captured Sunday's Clásico Federico Carmona Pereira (G2), adding another graded score to his Venezuelan campaign. Earlier on the card, Bambino Cósmico kicked off a memorable afternoon for Argentine-breds with a victory in a conditions race, completing a notable double for the albiceleste

Tuco Salamanca has now recorded two graded stakes victories in Venezuela / JOSÉ ARAY

CARACAS, Venezuela (Special for Turf Diario).- Life is good for Argentine-bred Tuco Salamanca at La Rinconada, where he has firmly established himself as one of the top older horses in training.

A few months ago, he ended a 15-year drought for Argentine horses in graded stakes at Venezuela’s main racetrack, and this Sunday, the son of Equal Stripes once again delivered at the highest level, taking the Clásico Federico Carmona Pereira (G2) over 1400 meters.

Content to race near the back through the early stages, Tuco Salamanca watched as the filly Mi Querida Emma(Yesbyjimminy) set the pace with pressure from the American-bred Juan Valdez (Medaglia D’Oro). As the field swung into the stretch, the leaders drifted off the rail, and jockey Hemirxon Medina seized the opportunity, diving inside with Tuco Salamanca. The Argentine quickly surged to the front, took over with 200 meters to run, and was never seriously threatened, scoring by 1 1/2 lengths over Gloriossus (Manchester) in a final time of 1:26.4. El Kamilo (Yesbyjimminy) finished third, with Juan Valdez holding fourth.

Owned by Stud Transformers and trained by Fernando Parilli Araujo, Tuco Salamanca has now won three races at La Rinconada and was runner-up in the Clásico Hylander (G3). This latest score marked his second graded victory in Venezuela.

Out of Call Her the Cat (Tale of the Cat), the 7-year-old bay is a half-brother to Giant Steps (Not for Sale), winner of the Clásico Eduardo Casey (G2) and multiple handicaps; to Rafita Bella (Treasure Beach), runner-up in the most recent edition of the Clásico Federico de Alvear (G2); and to the promising Trae El Efectivo (Treasure Beach), unbeaten in two starts. All were bred by Haras Juan Antonio.

Back in Argentina, Tuco Salamanca won four condition races from just ten starts at San Isidro and Palermo, and also finished fourth in the Handicap Tatán.

The day brought a double dose of success for the Argentine turf at La Rinconada, as earlier in the afternoon, Bambino Cósmico (Cosmic Trigger—Bambina Mine, by Sunray Spirit), also carrying the colors of Stud Transformers and trained by Fernando Parilli Araujo, captured a 1100-meter conditions race with Yamper González aboard.