he son of Equal Stripes scored a comfortable victory over favorite Kavac and can dream of reaching higher levels
The light impost (53 kg) and a perfect adaptation to a heavily soaked track were the keys for Brendan to unlock the door to success, claiming the Handicap Martinet (1800m, dirt), the feature event on Monday’s card at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo.
From there, the strong form of the Equal Stripes colt and a proactive approach sealed a surprisingly easy victory, positioning him as one to watch in the coming months.
Ridden by Kevin Banegas and coming off a conditional win, the Stud Don Polo color bearer, bred by Haras El Turf, tracked Standartd (Manipulator) closely, took command at the top of the stretch, and never looked back. He strode out comfortably down the center of the track, unbothered by any potential threats.
Favored Kavac (Cityscape, 59 1/2 kg) tried to mount a challenge but never got close, settling for second, beaten five lengths. Another two lengths back, longshot Valle Barún (Vástago Salvaje, 50 1/2 kg) completed the trifecta. Berri Vell(Bodemeister, 54 kg) checked in fourth, another three lengths adrift, while Safety Honour (Safety Check) faded to fifth, perhaps hindered by the deep going.
Standartd trailed the field, while Machacado (Galicado, 56 1/2 kg), one of the more highly regarded contenders, was pulled up on the track as his persistent physical issues flared up. The final time for the race was 1:49.80, following fractions of 23.44, 47.35, 1:12.10, and 1:36.10.
Trained by Raúl Osmar Taborda, Brendan is a full brother to G1 winner Balompié, G2 winners Balsamic and Bali Bay, and Bahama, dam of G3 winner Barwoman (Safety Check) in Uruguay. His lineage traces back to The Doll (Vitelio), a foundation family for El Turf/Abolengo.
With five wins from 15 starts, Brendan impressed with his Handicap Martinet triumph, and with maturity on his side, he still has room to prove himself at higher levels. And if the rain comes, all the better.
