Village King Earns BC Turf Berth in Carlos Pellegrini

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Village King Earns BC Turf Berth in Carlos Pellegrini
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Photo: Courtesy of Hipodromo de San Isidro
Village King wins the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini-Internacional at Hipódromo de San Isidro

The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini-Internacional (G1) Dec. 11 at Hipódromo de San Isidro kicked off the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series for the 2022 World Championships, and Haras El Angel De Venecia's 7-year-old Village King  did it in style.

Also a North American stakes winner, the bay son of Campanologist  took the lead with two furlongs remaining and cruised to a nine-length victory in South America's most prestigious race. Ridden by Martin Valle, he earned an automatic starting position into the 2022 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland.

Village King, trained by Carlos Etchechoury, finished third in the 2017 and 2020 editions of the Carlos Pellegrini. Saturday he won his ninth race in 21 starts, and his fourth group 1 triumph. He completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:23.42.

Sent off at the 9-1 third choice in the 19-horse field, Village King broke sharply and settled in behind the pace set by Sandino Ruler  and Encarrilado through the first 1,600 meters (about a mile) in 1:37.15. On the turn for home, Village King ranged up and easily passed a fading Encarrilado and set his sights on Sandino Ruler, catching the pacesetter in midstretch and extending his margin to nine lengths at the wire. Mirinaque , the 5-1 second choice, closed well to finish second, with Sandino Ruler holding on for third. Cool Day , the defending champion and 2-1 favorite, finished ninth.

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Out of the Pleasant Tap mare Villard, Village King began his career in Argentina with five starts and was then sent to the United States following a third-place finish in the 2017 Carlos Pellegrini. Under the care of trainer Todd Pletcher, Village King made eight starts, highlighted by a win in the 2018 Red Smith Stakes off the turf at Aqueduct Racetrack. After an eighth-place finish in the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park in May 2019, Village King was returned to Argentina and won his first race on more familiar ground, taking the 1 1/2-mile Progreso (G3) at San Isidro. 

Following a second-place finish in the Copa de Oro-Alfredo Lalor (G1), Village King finished third in last year's Carlos Pellegrini, just slightly more than a half-length behind Cool Day. He continued his solid form into 2021, reeling off three consecutive turf victories at San Isidro, taking the Miguel Alfredo Martinez de Hoz (G1), the Porteno (G3), and the 25 de May - Copa Dr. Enrique de Hoz (G1). The streak ended Oct. 24 in the Longines Gran Premio Latino Americano (G1) on dirt at Maronas Nacional Racecourse in Uruguay, where he finished fourth, 6 1/4 lengths behind Aero Trem. 

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Village King to start in the 1 1/2-mile Breeders' Cup Turf. Breeders' Cup also will provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 24, 2022 to receive the rewards.