In the Crespo, Third Time’s the Charm for Alado Frank Against Fantasioso Pass

The son of Gidu scored an impressive victory, leaving Hi Dolfi six lengths behind, while the favorite had to settle for third

Alado Frank took flight in the Palermo stretch / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

There was reason to believe that the third time might be the charm for Alado Frank against Fantasioso Pass (Distinctiv Passion) in the Clásico Pedro E. y Manuel A. Crespo (G3, 1400m, heavy dirt). Though his rival had bested him in the Clásico Guillermo Kemmis (G3) and finished ahead once again in the Clásico Santiago Luro (G2), Alado Frank had run below expectations in the first of those starts and made up significant ground in the latter.

This time, however, the son of Gidu delivered exactly what he came for. Handling the testing track conditions with ease, he scored a resounding and promising victory, securing his spot in the Gran Premio Montevideo (G1) on May 1 at Avenida del Libertador y Dorrego, where he will stretch out to 1500 meters.

With Brian Enrique in the irons and trained by Diego Peña, Alado Frank set the pace alongside Fantasioso Pass, who struggled around the turn. Once in the stretch, the eventual winner began to draw clear, widening his advantage from the 200-meter mark to the wire in commanding fashion.

At the finish, Alado Frank held a six-length advantage over Hi Dolfi (Hi Happy), who in turn edged Fantasioso Pass by three lengths for second. The beaten favorite faded in the final furlong, raising questions about whether the heavy track played against him or if distance could become a limiting factor moving forward. Gran Porteñito (Dabster) trailed home another three lengths back in his most disappointing effort to date. The final time was 1:25.27.

A homebred for Stud-Haras Gran Muñeca, Alado Frank is the second graded stakes winner from the first crop of Gidu(Frankel), who has also sired Takeshi Frank, a standout in La Plata. His dam, La Mauri Key (Key Deputy), never raced but is a half-sister to G3 winner Martineta Cat (Easing Along), the dam of G2 winner Yuto Bataraz Key (Key Deputy) and multiple stakes winners Perdizón Key, Perdizero Key, and Inambú Key (all by Key Deputy), as well as the dam of the outstanding Coraje Gaucho (Lenovo).