El Mejor Recuerdo always finds a way to shine, no matter when you read this...

With 62 kilos on his back, the son of Il Campione cruised to an easy victory in the Handicap Equal Stripes, contested over 1200 meters on the dirt

El Mejor Recuerdo was unstoppable as he surged through the middle of the track / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The moment El Mejor Recuerdo is having deserves a standing ovation. No matter the track or the weight he carries, he’s always ready to give his best and keep adding golden medals to an already formidable record. The bay runner for Stud Haras Don Julián once again showcased his class over the dirt at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, claiming Monday’s Handicap Equal Stripes (1200m) while shouldering a topweight of 62 kilos—a true mountain.

For the fifth consecutive time—and the eleventh in his career—the result was the same for the Rosario-based runner, who had little trouble dismissing a field of capable rivals, none of whom could match his sheer class.

With Francisco Leandro aboard, as is almost always the case, the overwhelming favorite (paying $1.80) sat just off the daring front-runners Rugiente (Il Campione, 59 kg) and Lo Straniero (Manipulator, 54.5 kg), who set the pace through an 800-meter fraction of 44.68 (the 400-meter split was not recorded).

As they straightened for home, both pacesetters began to show signs of fatigue, and it didn’t take long for El Mejor Recuerdo to sweep past them down the center of the track. From further back, Burgess Shale (Safety Check, 58.5 kg) threatened to pose a challenge, but he ran into the unshakable wall that the Daniel Cima trainee had built.

From there, it was smooth sailing for the winner, who hardly noticed when Tabacano (Fortify, 53.5 kg) came flying late from the back to capitalize on the low impost and grab second, one length behind. The same margin separated him from Burgess Shale, who settled for third. Hop On (Endorsement, 56.5 kg) and Rugiente followed, finishing necks apart to round out the superfecta.

Bred by Haras El Paraíso out of Sabiamente (Sebi Halo), El Mejor Recuerdo has now strung together five straight victories and remains a formidable force over 1200 meters. The handicaps will soon become nearly impossible in terms of weight, but with plenty of listed stakes at level weights on the horizon, he’ll have no shortage of opportunities to keep shining. No matter when you read this…