Look Portal continues to make steady progress among the long-distance runners, showing no signs of slowing down...

Carrying a hefty 132 pounds, the son of Portal del Alto went wire to wire over 2500 meters to take the Handicap Arturo A.

Look Portal dug in gamely down the lane / HAPSA

Developing a true stayer doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and an immense reliance on a horse’s physical and mental maturity. In Argentina, the demand for young stayers is almost ingrained, but globally, the top races at extended distances are often dominated by older, seasoned runners—or by those who steadily improve with each passing test.

Bringing along a stayer is among the most delicate tasks for any trainer. It’s not just about knowledge; pushing too hard, too soon can ruin a promising prospect. In the case of Look Portal, Nicolás Martín Ferro has taken a measured, deliberate approach—and the son of Portal del Alto continues to reward that patience. Since stretching out to marathon distances, he has found his best form.

After picking up minor awards, he broke through with a win in the Clásico Uruguayo at La Plata, followed by a Listed score in the Clásico Calidoscopio at San Isidro. On Monday, the dark bay representing Haras Cachagua added another feather to his cap, passing his stiffest test yet with flying colors in the Handicap Arturo A. over 2500 meters on the main track at Palermo. Assigned the highweight of 132 pounds, he rose to the occasion in what was the feature of the afternoon.

Sent off as the heavy favorite, Look Portal dictated terms from the start under a well-judged ride by the red-hot Kevin Banegas. When Sahuri (Greenspring, 119 lbs) loomed turning for home, Look Portal easily turned him away. Then came Valle Barún (Vástago Salvaje, 112 lbs) making a wide run, looking to capitalize on the light impost, but he too was no match for the frontrunner.

Look Portal crossed the wire two lengths clear, with Sahuri a further 1 1/2 lengths back in third. Demostrame(Endorsement, 128 lbs), last year’s winner and second choice both on paper and at the windows, faded to finish a distant fifth, more than 10 lengths behind. The final time was 2:36.47.

Bred by María I. Solveyra and Patricio Donovan, Look Portal is out of Nevada Stripes (Lookin At Lucky) and now boasts six wins from 13 starts. Steadily rising through the stayer ranks, a step up to graded stakes company may now be on the horizon.