Peru's HOY Liberal Wins Latinoamericana

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Liberal, Peru's 2014 Horse of the Year, won the Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano (Arg-I) March 14 at Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo in Buenos Aires.
 
Ridden by Edwin Talaverano for trainer Camilo Traverso, Liberal rallied willingly from off the pace to lead in the final furlong and held off Argentina's fast-finishing Dont Worry by about a half length to get the victory in the prestigious race. 
 
Chile's multiple group-placed Katmai clung to third after grabbing the lead in the stretch from pacesetter Alex Rossi. Idolo Porteno, the 2014 Carlos Pellegrini (Arg-I) winner, was fourth in the 13-horse field.
 
Time for the 2,100 meters (about 1 5/16 miles) was 2:09.81 on a fast track. The race, which saw its 31st edition, is staged each year at host tracks member nations of the Asociacion Latinoamericana de Jockey Clubes e Hipodromos.
 
A 3-year-old son of Meal Penalty owned by The Fathers, Liberal was a 2 1/2-length victor in the Enrique Meiggs (Per-II) Jan. 11 at Peru's Hipodromo de Monterrico in his previous outing.
 
In his Horse of the Year campaign, Liberal won the 2014 Derby Nacional (Per-I) and Clasico Ricardo Ortiz de Zevallos (Per-I), both at Monterrico in consecutive starts. He also was third to Alex Rossi in the Peruvian Two Thousand Guineas (Per-I) and was the nation's champion 3-year-old of the season. After Saturday's win Liberal's record stands at 5-1-2 from eight career starts.
 
Bred in Peru by Haras Los Azahares, Liberal was produced by Peruvian champion 3-year-old filly Democracia (by Play the Gold), a full sister to 2014 Peruvian Broodmare of the Year Arianna.