Exclamación Pass kicked off a perfect afternoon for Stud La Pampeana

The colt secured his first victory in his fourth outing, taking the Kilometer race of the Premio Acertijo

Exclamación Pass was decisive at Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

For the team consisting of Stud La Pampeana, trainer Fernando Garcés, and jockey Brian Enrique, Thursday at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo was a perfect afternoon. Not only did they take home the Handicap Manantial with the experienced Gran Compañero (South Kissing), but just a little earlier, they had celebrated with the 2-year-old Exclamación Pass in the Premio Acertijo, always over the kilometer on the dirt track.

In his fourth attempt, racing for the first time in the yellow and blue silks—after previously running for El Alfalfar, his breeder—the son of Distinctiv Passion was the overwhelming favorite (paying $1.40) and took charge of the race from the start. He grabbed the lead right out of the gate and pulled away effortlessly from the 400-meter mark to the wire. Ultimately, the colt crossed the line 5 lengths ahead of the debuting Tendence (Winning Prize), clocking a time of 55.57 seconds.

The bay had debuted with a fifth-place finish and had finished third in his two previous outings, including in the Clásico Guillermo Kemmis (G3). His dam is the multiple stakes-placed Sorpresa Cat (Easing Along), who has also produced the G3 Emoción Key (Key Deputy), stakes winner Estupefacta Key (Key Deputy), and G2-placed Sorpresiva Key (Key Deputy), all from a family originating from Haras Las Ortigas.

In the Premio Lemoro (1200m, dirt), a race for 3-year-olds with at least one win, there was an exciting finish where Hit Punch (Hit It a Bomb x Southern Shiner, by Indygo Shiner, Haras Firmamento) managed to win by a head over Lemon Drop Man (Manipulator), while the heavy favorite Seccato (Full Mast) finished third, 3 lengths behind. Jockey Wilson Moreyra, riding for trainer Sergio Carezzana, shone aboard the winner, who was wearing the silks of Stud Fredi.

Another interesting race of the afternoon was the Premio Marshall Patrol (1000m), for 3-year-old fillies with one win under their belt, contested under the optional alternative conditions. There, A Puro Ritmo (Angiolo x Rhythm and Soul, by Bahiaro), the maternal half-sister of G1 winner El Musical (Il Campione), comfortably triumphed by 1 1/2 lengths over the favorite Lapuli (Le Sortilege), stopping the clock at 56.11 seconds. Trained by Guillermo Frenkel Santillán, A Puro Ritmo is owned by Stud Los Patrios, bred by Haras El Paraíso, and was ridden by Iván Monasterolo.