Blue Stripe Wins Gran Premio Criadores at Palermo

Haras Pozo De Luna's 2-1 favorite Blue Stripe held off 84-1 longshot Soviet Catch by a head in a thrilling stretch drive to win the May 1 1 1/4-mile Gran Premio Criadores (G1) on dirt for fillies and mares at Palermo Racecourse. With this victory, Blue Stripe gained the first automatic starting position into this year's $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive free berths and fees paid into a corresponding race for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, Calif., on Nov. 5-6.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Blue Stripe to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. Breeders' Cup will also provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

Connections of Haras Pozo De Luna confirmed to John Fulton, South American representative for the Breeders' Cup, that Blue Stripe will be pointed to the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar.

Blue Stripe, a 3-year-old filly trained by Nicolas Martin Ferro and ridden by Eduardo Pavon, is a half sister to 2019 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Blue Prize , and by the top sire Equal Stripes . Today's victory was her first group 1 triumph and improved her record to four wins in six starts. She also remained undefeated in three starts this year, all at Palermo.

Blue Stripe, who is out of the Blues for Sale mare by Not For Sale, completed the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.01 over a fast track.

Away well in a field of 11, Blue Stripe stayed off the rail in third behind pacesetter Kalivia, who took the field through the half mile in 46.40 and the mile in 1:34.37. As Kalivia faded, Blue Stripe moved into first along the rail, but was quickly engaged by the 3-year-old Mahagonny, the 5-1 second choice. As the two fillies battled in the stretch, the 3-year-old Soviet Catch mounted a furious drive on the outside in the final furlong, passing Mahagonny at the wire for second but ran out of ground to collar Blue Stripe.  

Prior to the Gran Premio Criadores, Blue Stripe won the listed 1 1/4-mile Clasico Haras Argentinos on Feb. 5 by three-quarters of a length, and then captured the 1 1/4-mile Clasico Arturo R. and Arturo Bullrich Stakes (G2) on March 6.