Race Recap: Clasico Cesar del Rio

Peru's first WAYI race, the Clasico Cesar del Rio went to a horse whose aunt had success in both Peru and the US. Stud Couet's Valiant Emilia (PER) (Pegasus Wind) sat third most of the way around and then turned back the challenge of Shakita (ARG) (Equal Stripes (ARG)) to win the Group 3 race.

Ridden by Alfredo Clemente and trained by Juan Suarez Villarroel, Valiant Emilia has a race record of 23 starts with 11 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds and earnings of about $81,667 (US). Bred by Haras La Qallana, she is out of the mare Valiant Saint (Aljabar). One of the 1/2 sisters to Valiant Saint is G1 placed in Peru and stakes winner in the US Thundering Emilia (Thunder Gulch) who finished 5th in the 2011 Delaware Handicap to 2010 BC Ladies Classic runner up Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) who won and 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) who was a nose behind in the final meeting of their long time rivalry.

Valiant Emilia has now earned a spot in this year's Breeders' Cup Distaff.

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Thanks to Frances Karon of Trainer Magazine for the earnings amount!