Huracan Boricua Shines, Gives Gift Box First BT Winner - BloodHorse

Huracan Boricua rallied furiously around the final turn to win the Clasico Dia de la Raza Stakes at Camarero Oct. 13 to give her sire Gift Box his first black-type winner.

Despite a good break from the gate, the 2-year-old filly quickly fell behind by as many as seven lengths in this 6 1/2-furlong dirt contest.

Just as favored Caribbean Gal caught the leader Three Step Ahead , jockey Juan Diaz took the filly four wide and charged to the outside of the favorite. Caribbean Gal shifted outward to engage the surging rival, but she couldn't fend off the hard-charging Huracan Boricua over the final half-furlong, winning in 1:19.40.

The win improved Huracan Boricua's record to a perfect 4-0-0 from as many starts. She's bankrolled $60,436 from those wins, all at Camarero.

Out of her sire's first crop, Huracan Boricua was bred by Machmer Hall and Kevin and Victoria Duffy. She is owned by ERV Enterprises and trained by Eduardo Falcon. The filly was purchased by Ervin Rodriguez for $47,000 at this year's Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training out of the Rivera Training and Sales consignment. She had previously sold as a $20,000 yearling at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

She is out of the Bellamy Road mare Lady Bellamy.

Gift Box stood this year at Lane's End near Versailles, Ky., for $5,000. He entered the stud ranks in 2021.

On the track, gray or roan Gift Box earned more than $1 million, first for owner William Farish and trainer Chad Brown, then under the Hronis Racing banner for trainer John Sadler. His best victory was the 2019 Santa Anita Handicap (G1).