Full Serrano became the sixth Argentine-bred to win a Breeders’ Cup race when he turned back late challenges in Saturday’s $920,000 Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar.
The five-year-old Hronis Racing color-bearer is a relatively new addition to the U.S. racing scene. After making 14 starts in his home country, Full Serrano transferred to the care of trainer John Sadler in California. He started twice during the summer meet at Del Mar, winning a one-mile $40,000 allowance optional claimer before finishing a pacesetting second in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1).
“This horse came to me and has done well since we’ve had him here,” said Sadler. “Unfortunately, he got a little sick when we went back to Santa Anita, so he didn’t get a run in the prep [the Sept. 28 California Crown (G1)]. He might have been in the Classic, had he not got a little temperature.”
Sent off at 13-1 while facing a dozen rivals in the Dirt Mile, Full Serrano proved well-suited to the way the race unfolded. A rush for the early lead produced quick splits of :22.30 and :45.47 set by 70-1 longshot T O Saint Denis. The pace proved too hot for most of the speed horses, including the Tumbarumba and Muth, positioned in third and fourth place.
But for Full Serrano — who raced in second position for much of the race — the fractions were a walk in the park. In his Del Mar allowance win, he’d dueled through splits of :21.58 and :44.94.
As a result, when the field turned for home, Full Serrano responded to urging from jockey Joel Rosario and kicked away to a daylight lead. Deep-closing Post Time rallied through the pack to challenge and 3-1 favorite Domestic Product loomed a presence on the outside, but neither had a serious chance to catch Full Serrano. The homestretch leader held on by 1 1/2 lengths while reaching the finish line in 1:35.48 over a fast track.
“I had a really good trip,” said Rosario. “We broke good, put myself in a good position, and that was the key to winning the race on a speed track.”
Post Time finished clearly second-best over Domestic Product, followed by Tumbarumba, Katonah, Skippylongstocking, Muth, Seize the Grey, T O Saint Denis, Cagliostro, Mufasa, Three Technique, and Saudi Crown.
Brittany Russell, the trainer of Post Time, was delighted with the performance of the runner-up.
“Huge result. Huge result. What a horse! We’re tickled. That was awesome,” said Russell. “I’m watching, and man, he’s back there. They were running in front, but I’m always a little anxious watching a horse like this run because he had to pick his way through a bit. But, hey, we’re delighted. He ran huge. That was a great race.”
For Full Serrano, who paid $28.80 to win, a lucrative winter campaign involving international travel could be in the offing.
“I’d like to, if it works well, run in the Pegasus [World Cup] and then look possibly at the Middle East for this horse,” said Sadler.
Bred by Stud Haras Gran Muneca, Full Serrano is a son of Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) winner Full Mast out of the Jump Start mare Serra Do Mar. He’s the first Argentine-bred to win at the Breeders’ Cup since Blue Prize took the Distaff (G1) in 2019. With six wins, five seconds, and two thirds from 17 starts, he’s accumulated $797,223 in earnings.
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