Clasico Cesar del Rio; Valiant Emilia Earns Breeders’ Cup Distaff Entry

Clasico Cesar del Rio; Valiant Emilia Earns Breeders’ Cup Distaff Entry: The 2014 Clasico Cesar del Rio took place on Sunday, June 22nd, 2014 in Monterrico, Peru. All week long the experts were talking about a duel between the Argentinain Shakita and the Kentucky bred Azarenka. It was the Peruvian Valiant Emilia who crossed the finish line first in the 1 1/4 mile Clasico Cesar del Rio and earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Racecourse in Arcadia, California during the two-day Breeders’ Cup Championship scheduled on Friday, October 31, 2014.

Valiant Emilia, a 4-year-old daughter of Pegasus Wind (USA) – Valiant Saint (PER) by Aljabr (USA) won the first graded stakes race of her career on Sunday, in a special moment, a Win & You’re In race. She was ridden by Alfredo Clemente and is trained by Juan Suarez Villaroel.

From the start, Easy Manners and Iguatemi went to the lead, playing “come and catch me” with a fractions of: 24:41 ; 49:38; 76:24. Meanwhile, Valiant Emilia sat third stalking the pace, always in front of the favorites, Shakita and Azarenka. It was around the mile pole when Valiant Emilia made her move and went to the lead. Shakita also barreled down in the stretch and almost reached Valiant Emilia. However, true to her name, the Pegasus Wind daughter bravely held off Shakita’s move and won the race by 1 1/4 lengths. Azarenka didn’t fire this time and was third by 3 ¾ lengths, Dani’s Joy was fourth. The rest of the field was not a threat.

Valiant Emilia clocked the 1 ¼ mile in 2:10.01, in the slow track of Monterrico, and now has 11 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds and 2 fourths in 23 starts.

Valient Emilia surprised everybody in Peru and now has a opportunity to do the same in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff.

Clasico Cesar Rio 2014 Order of Finish:
2. Valiant Emilia
3a. Shakita
10. Azarenka
4. Dani’s Joy
Also ran: 8a -Dona Sarita, 6 -Say No More, 9- Beso de Moza, 7 – Dona Tener, 1 – Candela, 5 – Iguatemi, 3 – Easy Manners, 8 – Bambina Mia

Related Links:
Breeders’ Cup Challenge Schedule
Breeders’ Cup Official Website

Clasico Cesar del Rio 2014 Replay: