Champion Craf sprung a surprise in the Doria, securing the first stakes victory for Jeremías Leyes

The gray filly from Firmamento delivered a major upset, edging out Coni Fizz and Look Happy by a narrow margin on the turf

Champion Craf dug in late to fend off the determined Coni Fizz / HSI

Champion Craf took 10 starts to break her maiden, but since then, her career has been on a steady upward trajectory—so much so that she now boasts the title of stakes winner after pulling off an upset in the Doria (1400m, turf), the richest race of a lively Sunday card at San Isidro.

Trained by Adrián Reisenauer—though saddled on the day by Ezequiel Sánchez—the Haras Firmamento homebred also provided apprentice Jeremías Leyes with his first stakes victory. Leyes, one of two sons of Mario Leyes recently joining Argentina’s jockey colony, made the most of the opportunity.

Carrying 55kg, the Mastercraftsman filly battled gamely in the stretch to edge out favorite Coni Fizz (Marconi, 56kg) by half a neck after a prolonged duel. Closing fast to join the fray late, Look Happy (Hi Happy, 56.5kg) finished third, also just half a neck behind.

The early pace was set by Verenna (Cosmic Trigger, 56.5kg), who relinquished the lead to the pressing Coni Fizzmidway through the stretch. Champion Craf loomed large on the outside, and the race quickly turned into a battle between the grays, with the winner prevailing in 1:21.90.

Since scoring her maiden victory in late August 2024, Champion Craf has tallied five wins in total, along with several placings—including a brief, unsuccessful stint in the alternative category.

Out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Champion Day, a modest two-time winner, Champion Craf hails from a deep Haras Firmamento family imported from the U.S. She is a half-sister to Giacom (Giacomo), a popular gray on the local scene, as well as to Jane Cash (Johannesburg), herself the dam of G2 winner Master Johnny (Mastercraftsman) and The Great Cash (The Great Day), currently Argentina’s top 2-year-old after his wins in the G3 Congreve and G2 Santiago Luro.

With maturity fueling her recent progress, Champion Craf, still just a 4-year-old, appears poised to add more noteworthy chapters to her story.