Plaza Athenee and The Great Wells: Special Wins and Big Dreams Ahead
- Diego Mitagstein
- hace 1 día
- 3 Min. de lectura
The filly kicked off her career in style with a victory in the Clásico Juan S. Boucau, while the colt did the same, leading a 1-2-4-5 sweep for Firmamento in the Clásico José B. Zubiaurre
At their core, the Clásico José B. Zubiaurre (1500 meters, turf) and Clásico Juan S. Boucau (1500 meters, turf) are simply maiden races for juveniles. However, over time, they have evolved into highly anticipated, prestigious events, where owners and trainers often unveil horses with lofty expectations or powerful pedigrees.
Winning either is no easy feat. Though some in the past labeled them as “jinxed,” they remain important stepping stones toward greater ambitions—windows into a future filled with hope. Many horses who first made their mark in these races later blossomed into major stars, and this Friday at Hipódromo de San Isidro, two more promising names joined that list: the filly Plaza Athenee (Il Campione) and the colt The Great Wells (The Great Day), both turning in convincing performances.
The fillies broke the ice first, with Plaza Athenee delivering a spectacular late charge to capture the Boucau, proudly carrying the silks of Stud RDI back to the winner’s circle—just days after Out of the Blue (Drosselmeyer) had also scored for the team in the Clásico Porteño (G3) on the same turf.
While Out of the Blue punched his ticket to the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1), Plaza Athenee now earned her passport to the Gran Premio de Potrancas (G1), set for the same date. The challenge ahead will be considerable: stepping up to a mile and facing more seasoned rivals.
The victory marked the second in three years for Stud RDI in the Boucau, following the 2023 success of No Fear(Agnes Gold), who later became a G1 winner and was subsequently sold for a significant sum to Japan during the Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
Under Adrián Giannetti, the Carlos D. Etchechoury trainee raced well off the pace early while The Dancing Queen (Mootasadir) set the tempo, shadowed by Sinfonía Latina (Señor Candy), who caused some trouble at the start.
Things remained mostly unchanged until the stretch, where Sinfonía Latina surged to the lead and tried to open up. But she had no answer for the late burst of Plaza Athenee, who stormed down the center of the course to take over with 50 meters remaining and cross the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front, stopping the clock in 1:33.17.
Later on, The Great Wells led a 1-2-4-5 finish for Haras Firmamento as both breeder and owner in the Clásico José B. Zubiaurre, a result that showcased a full circle of homegrown success. A son of the promising freshman sire The Great Day (Harlan's Holiday) and out of champion Kalath Wells (Poliglote), he carries bloodlines deeply rooted in Firmamento’s rich tradition.
Trained by Enrique Martín Ferro, The Great Wells had been sold during the Gran Venta Selección 2024, with Stud De Galera purchasing a 50% share—reuniting the partnership that previously celebrated victories with The Great Dayhimself.
With Rodrigo Bascuñán aboard, the dark bay colt settled in mid-pack before launching a powerful move on the outside in the stretch. He quickly overhauled Uncle Moi (Uncle Mo) and drew off with authority, ultimately winning by 3 1/2 lengths. Uncle Moi held second narrowly over favored See You (Fortify), with the final time a sharp 1:32.98, notably quicker than the Boucau.
A half-brother to graded stakes-placed Kalath Hit (Hit It a Bomb), The Great Wells comes from a family that includes G1 winners Happy Happy Day (Hi Happy) and Miss Atorranta (Numerous), as well as G1 winners Mirta (Treasure Beach) and Acento Final (Treasure Beach), making his triumph all the more meaningful for the Firmamento team.
He also became the second stakes winner for his young sire The Great Day, who is also represented by unbeaten juvenile The Great Cash, a dual G2 and G3 winner.
On a Friday that highlighted the rising stars of Argentina’s next generation, Plaza Athenee and The Great Wells shone brightest at San Isidro, earning special victories that have them firmly on the radar for even greater things to come.
