The Punisher wins Pellegrini, qualifies for Breeders’ Cup Turf
Aregentina-bred The Punisher passed El Musical in deep stretch to capture Saturday’s 1 1/2-mile, Group 1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional at Hipódromo de San Isidro in Buenos Aires.
With this win, the Haras El Angel De Venecia homebred earned an automatic berth into the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.
The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional, South America’s most prestigious race, was the first Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race of the 2023 season.
The Punisher (22-1), a 3-year-old son of Cityscape out of the Orpen mare O.k. Angie, is trained by Carlos Etchechoury and was ridden by Martin Valle. The victory brought Etchechoury his fourth win in the Carlos Pellegrini.
Breaking alertly from post 6 in a 15-horse field, The Punisher was rated off the rail by Valle in sixth place through the first half-mile as two-time Group 1 winner Irwin set the pace along with Hacer Un Puente.
El Musical (5-1) ranged up along the rail at the top of the stretch to engage the frontrunner as Irwin began to fade. The Punisher began a concerted drive outside of the leaders and engaged El Musical in a furious stretch battle, passing his rival in the final yards to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
El Cid Campeador finished third followed by Don Tigre in fourth and Irwin in fifth.
The Punisher completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:24.47 over a course listed as normal. It was his third win in six starts and his first Group 1 triumph. The Punisher finished third in the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1) at San Isidro in his previous start on Oct. 15.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races from which winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 3 and 4 at Santa Anita.
As a part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, the Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for The Punisher to start in the 1 1/2-mile Turf. It also will provide a $40,000 travel allowance for each starter based outside of North America.