'Win and You're In' Spot for Ordak Dan

By Diego H. Mitagstein



Stud Misterio's Ordak Dan earned a "Win and You're In" berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) when he won the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (Arg-I) for the second time at San Isidro racecourse near Buenos Aires.

The winner of 2013 edition of the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo did it again May 25 with a gritty 1 1/2-length victory over favored Alma de Acero before more than 40,000 fans at San Isidro.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is series of 78 stakes, including five in South America, for which the winners receive automatic berths into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland in Lexington.

At age 6, and after overcoming a tendon injury he suffered in the United States while preparing to run the 2013 Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park, the son of Hidden Truth returned to top form and became the fourth horse in history to twice win the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo.

Under the steady hand of the Jorge Ricardo, the Brazilian jockey battling with American Russell Baze for the title of winningest jockey of all time, Ordak Dan and "Ricardinho" broke from from the inside post position in the 15-horse field. Ordak Dan proved he was best of all in the straight, taking the lead with 300 meters to go and outfought Alma de Acero to win in a final time of 2:27.14 for 1 1/2 miles on a turf course listed as good. Oregon finished third.

The large crowd that came to San Isidro Monday for the 2015 renewal witnessed one of its most historic races. After some down years, the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo has regained its standing since joining the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" program in 2012.

Ordak Dan, bred by Haras Caryjuan, is handled by champion trainer Juan C. Etchechoury, who said after the race there is a chance for a run in the Turf again this year.

"We need to meet with his owners and talk about it, but in principle, it is our intention to try," Etchechoury said. "The horse has a lot of heart and this race was a great memento to total soundness. Jorge Ricardo did wonderful job riding him. It is my first win in the 25 de Mayo, and I'm really very happy."

Much of credit for Ordak Dan's recovery goes to veterinarian Carlos Carabajal, who trained the winner in his triumph of 2013. An eminence in Argentina, Carabajal recommended Etchechoury for the horse's preparation post-injury stage and the results were evident.

Ordak Dan was off for 1 1/2 years until last December when he finished18th in the 1 1/4-mile Carlos Pellegrini (Arg-I) at San Isidro. He improved, though, in his first three starts of 2015 for Etchechoury, which included a solid runner-up finish in the Premio Matinez de Hoz (Arg-I) at San Isidro in February behind Alma de Acero.

Ordak Dan finished fifth most recently in the Gran Premio Republica Argentina (Arg-I) at Palermo on dirt.