Casaca wins the Benítez de Lugo

Casaca (GB, 2006) [Medicean-Priena(Priolo)], the chestnut filly owned by Cuadra África, trained by J. M. Osorio and ridden by Jeremy Crocquevieille, won today the Premio Ricardo Ruiz Benítez de Lugo (2,200 m, 3yo+ fillies) at the La Zarzuela racetrack in Madrid. Narya (IRE, 2007) [Halling], prop. of Cuadra Miranda, trained by M. Delcher S and ridden by Jorge Horcajada was second, with Clunia (Silent Times) third and Tasha Linda (Where or When) fourth.

The race was commanded by Lisselan Beauty with Narya second until the end of the last turn in which Narya took the lead and entered the stretch along the rail. Clunia charged but couldn't surpass Narya. Casaca came from behind to beat both by one and a half lengths.

Casaca winning the Benitez de Lugo. Photo courtesy of turfarganda.blogspot.com


Here is the race: Premio Ricardo Ruiz Benítez de Lugo 2011. Casaca is a chestnut filly with white blaze and her jockey wears dark and light green vertical lines.

This is the fourth win in five starts this year for Casaca who has won both the main races for 3yo+ fillies in San Sebastián (Premio Kutxa) and Madrid (this Premio Benítez de Lugo).

And this 2011 is being a dream year for owner-breeder Cuadra África, trainer J.M. Osorio (Duque de Alburquerque), jockey Jeremy Crocquevieille .... and dam Priena (Priolo-Isabena), since the siblings Entre Copas (Sakhee) and Casaca (Medicean) have won Mijas Cup, GP de Madrid, Premio Corpa, GP de San Sebastián (Entre Copas) and the two main races for fillies (Kutxa and Benítez de Lugo).

Also in this meeting, in a 1,400 m race for debutant 2 y/os, the winner was Plenipotenciario (IRE, 2009) [Caradak-Poliaurea], owned by Cuadra Ussía-Figueroa, trained by J. L. De Salas and ridden by Marco Secci, with Saphirside (IRE, 2009) (Elusive City) second and Vraivita (SPA, 2009) [Fol Parade] third. Plenipotenciario is the third winner for Milagro's stallion Caradak, after Fearside and Matusalen (this last, unbeaten in three starts).

Premio Benítez de Lugo (2,200 3yo+ fillies) this Sunday in Madrid

Racing returns to Madrid after the summer season, and the first big race is the traditional Premio Ricardo Ruiz Benítez de Lugo, a 2,200 m race for 3 yo+ fillies, with a purse of 21,000 euros for the winner.

The race this year seems like an almost exact reedition of the recent Premio Kutxa, won by Casaca in San Sebastián.

Partants are:

Casaca (GB, 2006) chestnut filly, [Medicean-Priena(Priolo)], owned by Cuadra África, trained by J. M. Osorio, ridden by J. Crocquevieille. Half to Entre Copas, has 14 starts, 4 wins, 5 placings and 73,463 euros.

Lisselan Beauty (USA, 2006), a bay filly [Black Mambo-Like to Shimmy], owned by Lisselan Farms Ltd., trained by A. R. Acosta, ridden by A. R. Acosta

Monyaar (FR, 2007), bay filly [Montjeu-Iktheyaar], owned by Cuadra Ussía-Figueroa, trained by G. Arizcorreta, ridden by M. Secci

Narya (IRE, 2007), bay filly [Halling-Badraan], owned by Cuadra Miranda, trained by M. Delcher S., ridden by J. Horcajada. Winner of the Beamonte in 2010, has been beaten repeatedly by Casaca this year.

Relámpago (GB, 2007) [Observatory-River City Moon], owned by Cuadra Tres y Medio, trained by B. Valenti, ridden by J. L. Martínez

Tasha Linda (IRE, 2007) [Where or When-Triple Two], owned by Cuadra Paganini, trained by T. Callejo, ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina

Clunia (IRE, 2008) [Silent Times-Doohulla], owned by Cuadra Brazacorta, trained by G. Villarta, ridden by Borja Fayos. Winner of the Beamonte (Oaks) and best 2yo filly in 2010. Second to Casaca in the Premio Kutxa.

Manivela (SPA, 2008) [Baptize-Cayena], owned by Cuadra Fantasia, trained by T. Callejo, ridden by J. C. Cerqueira. Won the Premio Comunidad de Madrid back in May.

Tafadhali (SPA, 2008) [Dyhim Diamond-Laida], owned by Cuadra Lajorquín, trained by J. López, ridden by J. Grosjean.

Recent winners of the Benitez de Lugo were: Para Elisa (2010), Fresneda (2009), Synergy (2008), Jade (2007) and Afriketa.

Premio Kuxta tomorrow in San Sebastián

The main race of this Sunday in San Sebastián is the Premio Kutxa, a 2,200 m race for 3yo+ fillies, one of the milestones in the selection of fillies in Spain, with 22,000 euros for the winner

The partants this year are:

Casaca (GB, 2006) [Medicean-Priena(Priolo)], owned by Cuadra África, trained by J.M. Osorio, ridden by J. Crocquevieille. Casaca won the trial race for this Premio Kutxa and is the main favourite. She was 2nd both in the Valderas (Guineas) and the Beamonte (Oaks) in 2009 and is half sister to Entre Copas. Casaca has 13 starts with 3 wins and 51,463 euros in earnings.

Lisselan Beauty (USA; 2006) [Black Mambo-ike to Shimmy], owned by Lisselan Farms, trained by A. R. Acosta, ridden by V. Janacek. She has 7 starts with 2 wins.

Monyaar (FR, 20907) [Montjeu-Ikhteyaar] owned by Cuadra Ussía-Figueroa, trained by G. Arizkorreta, ridden by M. Secci. Eight starts one win and 5 placings.

Narya (IRE, 2007) [Halling-Badraan], owned by Cuadra Miranda, trained by M. Delcher S, ridden by J. Horcajada. Champion 3 y/o filly in Spain in 2010, winning the Beamonte (Oaks) and the previous edition of this Premio Kutxa. Narya is full sister to Group performer Eastern Aria and has 6 starts with 3 wins and 1 placing.

Spain Blues (IRE, 2006) [Anabaa Blue-Strike Alight], owned by Cuadra Ardal, trained by X. Thomas D, ridden by R. C. Montenegro. Nineteen starts, 3 wins, 8 placings.

Tasha Linda (IRE, 2007) [Where or When-Triple Two], owned by Cuadra Paganini, trained by T. Callejo, ridden by J- C. Cerqueira. Eigh starts, 1 win, 4 placings.

Vivement Dimanche (GB, 2005) [Royal Applause-Goodwood Blizzard], owned by Celso Méndez, trained by Ch. Delcher, ridden by D. Morisson. Has run 46 times, 4 wins, 26 placings, 14,025 euros in earnings.

Azamor (SPA, 2008) [Slickly-Red Bravo], owned by Cuadra El Herrojo, trained by G. Arizkorreta, ridden by J. B. Hamel. Seven starts, 1 win, 2nd to Clunia in the Beamonte.

Clunia (IRE, 2008) [Silent Times-Doohulla], owned by Cuadra Brazacorta, trained by G. Villarta, will be ridden by Borja Fayos. Champion 2 y/o filly in Spain, winner of the Beamonte, well adapted to the track, although only 4th in the tral race. 90,450 euros in earnings.

Manivela (SPA, 2008) [Baptize-Cayena], owned by Cuadra Fantasía, trained by T. Callejo, will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina. Eleven starts, 2 wins (including Premio Comunidad de Madrid), 2 placings.

Tafadhali (SPA, 2008) [Dyhim Diamond-Laida]. Owned by Cuadra Lajorquín, trained by J. López, ridden by J. Grosjean. Four starts, one win.

Nelson Groom (FR) wins again

Nelson Groom (FR, 2006) [Charming Groom-Slot Machine(Highest Honor)], winner of the 2010 Mijas Cup, achieved his first win since that race when he went wire to wire in the Premio Guardia Civil under jockey Julien Grosjean for trainer F. Rodriguez and owner Reza Pazooki, last Sunday in the La Zarzuela racetrack. The field for this 2,200 race for 4 yo+ included three classic winners of 2010 in Spain: Plantagenet (SPA, 2007) [Trade Fair-Crafty Buzz(Crafty Prospector)], winner of the Villapadierna (Derby), Pazifiksturm (GER, 2007) [Samum-La Parabol(Trempolino)], winner of the Villamejor (St. Leger) and Narya (IRE, 2007), winner of the Beamonte (Oaks), also starring Señor Miranda (GB, 2007) [Fantastic Light-Ringing Hill(Charmwood Forest)] (second both in the Villapadierna and the Villamejor), Casaca (GB, 2006) [Medicean-Priena(Priolo)], half sister to Entre Copas and 2nd in the Valderas(1,000 guineas) and Beamonte(Oaks) in 2009. Risquillo (Ballingarry), Saruman (Arch) and Tasha Linda (Where or When) completed the field.

Nelson Groom went comfortably in front of the field, followed by Señor Miranda and didn't face great opposition in the stretch, with Plantagenet closing along the rail for second and Señor Miranda third and Risquillo fourth.

Here is the race: Premio Guardia Civil