Obataye wins at home for Brazil in Gran Premio Latinoamericano

Local favorite Obataye rallied from mid-pack to take the lead inside the last 150 yards and splash his way to victory Saturday in the 41st running of the Group 1, US$70,247 Gran Premio Latinoamericano at Gávea, Brazil.

A 5-year-old Courtier horse owned by Haras Rio Iguassu and trained by Antonio Oldoni, Obataye (4-1) broke alertly from post 5 in the field of 16 older horses going 1 1/4 miles on the soft-to-heavy turf. Saving ground along the rail through the first turn, he settled in ninth place under jockey João Moreira.

Seiquevouteamar (10-1), a 4-year-old Verrazano colt who set the pace around both left turns, dug in down the stretch under Dylan Machado before finally being passed before the sixteenth pole. Obataye, who got first run on him, led a charge of closers in the deep stretch and won by 1 1/2 lengths. His final time without a run-up was 1:58.59 for the 2,000 meters, 13 yards shy of 1 1/4 miles.

Medjool (26-1), a 5-year-old Constitution gelding who rallied late under Jorge González, finished second. Seiquevouteamar wound up in a dead heat for third with 4-year-old Mendelssohn colt My Way (32-1), who was ridden by Oscar Ulloa. Betting favorite Vundu (3-2) finished 11th.

Obataye paid $15.00, $7.60 and $4.80 in World Pool mutuels. Medjool returned $13.60 and $9.40. Show payouts were $4.80 for Seiquevouteamar and $5.60 for My Way.

It was the second win in a row for Obataye, who scored in the Grande Premio Matias Machline (G1) on Aug. 2 at Cicade Jardim in Brazil. He ran his record to 17: 9-2-2.