Guiltless Never Lost Faith and Caught the Brave Pacesetter Early Life at the Wire

La Providencia’s filly catches rival at the wire with key assist from Eduardo Ortega Pavón

Guiltless secures second stakes victory of her career / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Confidence in Guiltless never wavered among her connections, despite the inconsistency that had marked her career. However, Monday’s performance at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo may have signaled a turning point for the Haras La Providencia homebred, who displayed both quality and determination over the heavy turf to capture the Clásico Farnesio (1400m), the highlight of a card that drew a large crowd to the grandstands.

Bringing back the form that led her to victory on debut in the Clásico Juan S. Boucau and a third-place finish in the Polla de Potrancas (G2) at La Plata, the Full Mast filly delivered a gutsy performance, aided by the relentless riding of Eduardo Ortega Pavón.

Early Life (Suggestive Boy) took control from the outset, setting a solid but manageable pace under Jorge Peralta, who kept her enthusiasm in check. Causeway Girl (Dabster) applied pressure, while heavy favorite Amiguita Gina (Todo Un Amiguito) tracked behind. Guiltless, in the meantime, trailed the field.

At the top of the stretch, the leader dug in along the center of the track, fending off every move Juan Carlos Noriegaattempted aboard the returning Causeway Girl. Just when Early Life seemed poised to seal the victory, Ortega Pavónand Guiltless launched a determined rally along the rail, never losing faith and surging in the final strides to prevail by half a neck. Causeway Girl finished third, 1 1/2 lengths back, while Filippiada (Il Mercato) rounded out the superfecta, another 2 1/2 lengths behind. Tac-Tac (Manipulator) and a disappointing Amiguita Gina completed the order of finish. The final time of 1:24.54 was reasonable given the testing conditions.

Out of Guinness, a well-performed Exchange Rate mare from the family of the exceptional Griffe de Paris (Telescópico), Guiltless put her inconsistency behind her, secured a second stakes win, and perhaps set the stage for a more reliable campaign—one that always held the promise of greatness.