$225,000 Clasico Del Caribe at Caliente : Off Track Helps Long Shot From Venezuela Surprise

In a race billed as the “Kentucky Derby of Latin America,” a horse named Benemerito brought back memories of a Kentucky Derby past for Venezuelans Sunday at Agua Caliente Race Track.

Benemerito, a winner of seven of his 15 races in his native Venezuela, drew away to win the $225,000 Clasico Del Caribe by eight lengths on a sloppy track. It may have been the most important victory for Venezuelan horse racing since Canonero II won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1971.

“There’s no doubt this is a great day for our country’s racing,” said Benemerito’s trainer, Daniel Perez.

The day was supposed to belong to trainer Laz Barrera, who saddled the Mexican horse Passer II and brought in Angel Cordero Jr. to ride him. But Passer II, the 9-5 favorite, fell back on the far turn and finished 11 lengths back in third place.

Perez has learned much of his trade from Barrera.

“You know I love horse racing so much I like to give something back to the sport,” Barrera said. “I have a friend in Venezuela who knew Daniel. He comes up and spends time with me. If I had to lose, I couldn’t think of any other horse I’d rather see win.”

Most of the 12,500 fans on hand probably didn’t agree with Barrera. They let Benemerito go off as the longest shot on the board, at 36-1 odds. Benemerito, ridden by 27-year-old Venezuelan jockey Douglas Valente, paid $74.00, $26.60 and $15.60. Motivos, a Mexican-bred runner, finished second and returned $7.20 and $2.60. Passer II paid $3.60 to show.

The 1 1/8-mile race began in a steady rain and Benemerito, Motivos and Passer II all broke quickly and pulled clear of the pack. Perez said that Benemerito usually runs from behind, but that because of the bad weather he had asked Valente to get his horse out of the gate quickly.

“We changed our strategy just a few minutes before the race,” Perez said.

As it turned out, the fast start was essential. The muddy track prevented any horse from making a run at the top three.

Benemerito took the lead from Motivos on the far turn. At the same time, Cordero tried to bring Passer II around the front-running twosome. However, he didn’t respond.

Benemerito earned $155,000, more than five times his career earnings coming into the race.