Tuesday, October 13, 2015
The 7th running of the G3 Clásico Angel Contreras Mejía, a stakes event for 2-year-olds honoring Rancho San Antonio’s founder and co-owner, was a shocker as late running FOREVER FRIEND made the most of the suicidal pace duel between GUAYACAN (Rationalexuberance – La Excelente, by Blueformer) and undefeated TANGO DANCER (Tango Tales – Let’s Dance Again, by Green Dancer). The 1,400 meter race brought together the most talented 2-year-old colts who battled for the over $316,000 DOP purse, plus 3 $50,000 credits towards the upcoming Rancho San Antonio 2015 yearling Sale.
FOREVER FRIEND, a talented gray by Blueformer out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Forever Endeavor, played second fiddle most of the season to his previously undefeated stablemate TANGO DANCER, considered by many the cream of the 2-year-old crop. The colt who makes his second win of the year a graded-stakes one, gave his owners the Establo La Aurora their second consecutive win in one of the island’s premier stakes races, after they won the 2014 version with ANSIOSA (Sicótico). The final time in the 7 furlong stake was only 1:29 2/5 but the track has been unusually slow in the past weeks.
FORVER FRIEND was purchased by Establo La Aurora at the 2014 Rancho San Antonio Yearling Sale and is owned by César Prieto, Ramón Contreras and Ricardo Contreras. The colt is trained by perennial leading Dominican trainer Eugenio Deschamps and Juan Jimenez and gave Venezuelan apprentice rider Willy Gonzalez his first stakes win.