Poker Mommy Shines in Handicap Elías Antúnez, Eyes Gran Premio Criadores

The gray filly owned by Stud Los Betos went wire to wire with ease and now sets her sights on the G1 scheduled for May 1

Poker Mommy delivered a strong finish to secure her fourth victory / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Poker Mommy (Daddy Long Legs, 126 1/2 lbs.) and Cyboogie (Galicado, 134 lbs.), the two leading contenders in the buildup to Friday’s Handicap Elías Antúnez (1800m, dirt) at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, had starkly contrasting performances in the featured event.

While the gray filly lived up to her favoritism with an emphatic and promising victory, Cyboogie, now racing for Stud Rodolfo Pedro, struggled under the impost and the layoff, finishing at the rear in a disappointing effort that raises concerns about her future, particularly as she approaches the age of six.

Having returned from a break with a dominant nine-length score over 2000 meters at the same track, Poker Mommy once again proved a class apart. Controlling the pace virtually at will, she further cemented her credentials for a potential tilt at the Gran Premio Criadores (G1) on May 1, a race that is part of the Challenge Series – Win and You’re In, offering a coveted berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar in November.

Jockey Francisco Leandro had little more to do than ensure the Stud Los Betos runner didn’t idle on the lead—a tendency she shows when unchallenged. That was enough to see her coast home by three lengths over longshot Priola (South Kissing, 117 lbs.), completing a 1-2 for the Scarpello family, with the winner trained by Franco and the runner-up by Gustavo.

Poker Mommy stopped the clock in 1:49.47, securing her fourth victory in nine starts, her second at this level. The result left Franco Scarpello more than satisfied, as he told Lía Camps after the race: “She came back from a layoff with a strong win, and luckily, things went exactly as we hoped today. She’s always been a quality filly, and after recovering from a minor injury, she’s getting back to her best. It’s great to have this kind of horse, one that allows you to dream of big races. Now, the plan is to aim for the Criadores.”

And he has every reason to look ahead with optimism.