Chile: Gran Oriente earns Breeders' Cup Mile berth with first Group 1 win
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Gran Oriente, a 3-year-old Chilean-bred colt, won a Group 1 race at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Club Hipico de Santiago in Chile on Sunday to earn a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Gran Oriente (16-1) won the first Group 1 race of his career on Sunday in the Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella against 12 rivals. Ridden by Jose Alvarez, Gran Oriente closed from seventh in the final half-mile to take the lead in the final furlong. He won by three-quarters of a length over 11-1 Dia De Otono, a filly. Medjool, the 7-5 favorite finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths.
Gran Oriente, who is by Classic Empire, is trained by Joaquin Herrera for owner Stud Don Simon. Sunday’s race carried a purse of approximately $44,000.
Earlier this year, Gran Oriente was third in two Group 3 races at 1 1/4 miles and 1 3/8 miles. He has won 3 of 11 starts in a career that began last June.
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