Intense for Me Wins Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini

Prevailing in a furious stretch drive, Stud Toroquemero's 4-year-old Intense for Me overtook favored El Kodigo at the wire to win by a head in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional (G1) Dec. 14 at Hipodromo de San Isidro.

With this victory, Intense for Me earned the first automatic starting position in next year's $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.

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 2025 Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar in California.

The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional, South America's most prestigious race—with starters representing Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Uruguay—was the first Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race of the 2025 season.

Trained by Nicolas Martin Ferro and ridden by Martin Valle, Intense for Me, a chestnut son of Fortify  out of Intense Look, by Halo Sunshine, completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:23.17.

Breaking from post 18 in a 20-horse field, 9-1 Intense for Me ran in midpack through the first mile of the race before hitting the top of the stretch with 10 horses in front of him. Meanwhile, 2-1 favored El Kodigo, the top older horse in Argentina this year, had maneuvered his way toward the inside and set his sights for the lead after turning home, two lengths in front of Intense for Me. El Kodigo passed leader Crazy Talent to his inside and tried desperately to hold off Intense for Me storming down the center of the course inside the final furlong but was headed at the finish. Don Feres closed strongly to finish third, followed by Crazy Talent.

Intense for Me improved his record to eight wins in 15 starts. He came into the race off a third-place finish to El Kodigo in the Nov. 2 Copa de Oro - Alfredo Lalor (G1) at San Isidro. Intense for Me won two group 2 stakes over the course, taking the America (G2) in March and the Forli (G2) in June.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Intense for Me to start in the Breeders' Cup Turf. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.