Cool Day Prevails over Pinball Wizard to Win Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina

Photo of Cool Day (ARG) courtesy of Hipódromo San Isidro

Winner Earns First Automatic Berth into 2021 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar

BUENOS AIRES (Dec. 19, 2020) – In a thrilling stretch drive, Francisco Pérez Werthein’s 3-year-old Cool Day (ARG) surged to the front in the final yards to prevail over favored Pinball Wizard (ARG) and Village King (ARG) to win Saturday’s 1 ½-mile Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini (G1) by a half-length at Hipódromo de San Isidro. With this victory, Cool Day earned an automatic berth into the 2021 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held on Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California.

The Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini, South America’s most prestigious race, was the first Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race of the 2021 season.

Making just his fourth start, Cool Day, ridden by Eduardo Ortega Pavon and trained by Alfredo Gaitan Dassie, completed the 1 ½ miles in 2:27.78. Today’s victory was the sixth win in the Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini for Gaitan Dassie.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Cool Day to start in the 1 ½-mile Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. Breeders’ Cup also will provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

Sent off at 9-1 in a 13-horse field, Cool Day, a chestnut son of John F Kennedy (IRE) out of the Equal Stripes (ARG) mare Cool Side (ARG), saved ground just off the rail in the early going as longshot Senor Fancy (ARG) set the pace, establishing a 4-length advantage over 6-1 Village King through the first mile. At the end of the far turn, Village King closed the gap on Senor Fancy and took the lead at the top of the stretch. The 3-1 second choice, Pinball Wizard, then found his best stride to the inside and engaged Senor Fancy in the final quarter-mile, taking a half-length lead. Pavon, aboard Cool Day, swiftly followed Pinball Wizard along the rail and slipped inside his two rivals to prevail at the wire.

Tetaze (ARG), the 5-2 favorite, finished fourth followed by Emotion Orpen (ARG), also trained by Gaitan Dassie, in fifth.

Cool Day won his second race of the year. He broke his maiden in his second start at 9 furlongs on Oct. 20 at San Isidro, and came back on Oct. 31 in the 1 ¼-mile Jockey Club (G1) over the same course, finishing second by 1 ½ lengths.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 5-6 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.