Gran Oriente earns Breeders' Cup Mile bid in upset fashion
3-year-old Gran Oriente surged to the front in the final eighth of a mile to win Sunday’s Gran Premio Club Hípico Falabella (G1) on turf at Club Hípico de Santiago. With his victory in the 1 1/4-mile affair, Gran Oriente earned an automatic starting position and fees paid into the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Trained by Jose Alvarez for owner Don Simon and ridden by Joaquin Herrera, Gran Oriente gained his third victory in 10 starts, finishing 1 length ahead of the fast-closing filly Dia de Otono. The son of Classic Empire completed 1 1/4 miles in 1:57.71. It was his first start on turf since last August and his first victory since an allowance score in June. Gran Oriente came into the race off a 10th-place finish in the May 3 Gran Premio Hipódromo Chile (G1) going 1 3/8 miles.
Breaking from post 13 in the auxiliary gate, Gran Oriente, away at 17-1, worked his way toward the inside of the course in the first half-mile while My Way and Lonwhite set the pace, with defending champion Frateli La Vita in close pursuit. Gran Oriente steadily gained from seventh place heading into the stretch, and set his sights on the new leader, Cassis Violetta, Chile’s 2024 champion 2-year-old filly, inside the final quarter-mile.
Gathering stride as he approached the wire, Gran Oriente passed the fading Cassis Violetta and fended off the charge of Día De Otoño to his inside and a late drive from the 2-1 favored Medjool, who finished 1 1/2 lengths back in third. Cassis Violetta checked in fourth.
As part of the benefits of the challenge series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Gran Oriente to start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, which will be run at one mile on the turf at Del Mar. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
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