Breeders’ Cup Turf qualifier: Intense for Me takes Pellegrini

Prevailing in a furious stretch drive, 4-year-old Intense for Me overtook favored El Kodigo at the wire to win by a short neck in the Group 1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional at San Isidro near Buenos Aires.

With the victory, Intense for Me earned the first automatic starting position in next year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The win-and-you’re-in races in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series make up an international series of stakes from which winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

The Pellegrini is South America’s most prestigious race with starters representing Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Uruguay.

Owned by Toroquemero, trained by Nicolas Martín Ferro and ridden by Martin Valle, Intense for Me is a chestnut colt by Fortify out of Intense Look by Halo Sunshine. He completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:23.17.

Breaking from post 18 in a 20-horse field, Intense for Me (9-1) ran in mid-pack through the first mile of the race before hitting the top of the stretch with 10 horses in front of him. The 2-1 favorite El Kodigo, the top older horse in Argentina this year, had maneuvered his way toward the inside and set his sights for the lead after turning home two lengths in front of Intense for Me.

El Kodigo passed leader Crazy Talent to his inside and tried desperately to hold off Intense for Me storming down the center of the course inside the final furlong, but he was headed at the finish. Don Feres closed strongly to finish third followed by Crazy Talent.

Intense for Me improved his record to eight wins in 13 starts. He came into the race off a third-place finish to El Kodigo in the Nov. 2 Copa de Oro Alfredo Lindor (G1) at San Isidro. Intense for Me won two Group 2 stakes over the course, taking the America in March and the Forli in June.