The Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (previously known as the Premio Abril, Premio Old Man, Clásico Gilberto Lerena and Premio Gilberto Lerena) is a Group 1 horse race run at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, open to fillies and mares three years old or older. It is currently run over a distance of on the turf.
History The Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena was inaugurated in 1905 as the Premio Abril. In 1914, the race was renamed to the Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena in honor of Gilberto Justiniano Lerena Lenguas, a co-founder of the Argentine Stud Book who bred Argentinian Quadruple Crown winner Old Man and was associated with various famous and successful studs, including Stud Oriental, Stud Bend Or, Haras La Guardia, Haras El Moro, Haras Las Ortigas, and his own Haras El Viejo. The race ran as the Premio Old Man in 1954 and 1955.
The Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena has been run at a variety of distances, including:
1600 meters (1918–2007) 2000 meters (2008–2012) 2200 meters (2013–present)
When the group race system was introduced in Argentina in the 1973/4 season, the Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena was a Group 3 race. In 1976, it was still a Group 3. From 1988 to 1994, the Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena was run as a Group 2 race. In 1995 it was upgraded to Group 1, a designation it has since retained.
In 1990 and 1991, the race was restricted to horses that had won at least one race.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was not run.
The Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena is the second jewel of the Campeonato Palermo de Oro ® for fillies and mares, after the Group 2 Premio Clásico Arturo R. y Arturo Bullrich and before the Group 1 Gran Premio Criadores.
Records since 1988 Speed record:
2200 meters (current distance): 2:10.48 – Belleza de Arteaga (2023) 1600 meters: 1:33.08 – Southern Filly (1994) 2000 meters: 2:01.39 – Malpensa (2011)
Greatest winning margin:
8 lengths – Malpensa (2011)
Most wins:
Since 1988, no horse has won the Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena more than once. Prior to that, the race was won twice by La Ñatita (1915, 1917), Black Beauty (1923, dead heat in 1924), Palanca (1936, 1937), Et Bien! (1954, 1955), and Dorine (1962, 1963).
Most wins by a jockey:
3 – Juan Carlos Noriega (1994, 2007, 2009) 3 – Jacinto R. Herrera (1997, 1998, 2000)
Most wins by a trainer:
5 – Juan Carlos Etchechoury (1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2019) 4 – Juan Carlos Maldotti (2002, 2004, 2007, 2009) 3 – José Luis Palacios (1995, 2014, 2018)
Most wins by an owner:
4 – Haras Santa Maria de Araras (1992, 2012, 2013, 2021)
Most wins by a breeder:
4 – Haras Santa Maria de Araras (1992, 2012, 2013, 2021) 4 – Haras La Quebrada (1994, 1997, 2000, 2001)
Winners since 1988 +YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerBreederDistanceTimeMarginGroupRef2026Cannolina3Brian Rodrigo EnriqueAlberto Manuel LopézStud 1912Antonio Di Sanzo2200 meters2:19.024 lengthsI2025Ceniza Pampa3Kevin BanegasEdgardo Pablo MartucciPedro RodolfoÁngel Terenziani Abel2200 meters2:14.861 lengths12024Ballado's Beach5Adrián M. GiannettiJuan Manuel EtchechouryHaras Las MonjitasHaras El Gusy2200 meters2:12.521 lengths12023Belleza de Arteaga5William PereyraRoberto PellegattaStud Chos MalalHaras Bioart2200 meters2:10.482 lengths12022Wild Ones5Gabriel L. BonasolaNicólas Martín FerroStud Campos de AraujoHaras La Leyenda de Areco2200 meters2:13.412 lengths12021Fanciful5Rodrigo G. BlancoJuan Manuel EtchechouryHaras Santa Maria de ArarasHaras Santa Maria de Araras2200 meters2:14.93 length12020Race not run2019American Song5José A. Da SilvaJuan Carlos EtchechouryStud Rubio B.Haras La Pasión2200 meters2:13.48 length12018La Extraña Dama4Eduardo Ortega PavónJosé Luis PalaciosHaras de la PommeHaras de la Pomme2200 meters2:17.796 lengths12017Kiriaki4Gustavo E. CalventeJuan Bautista UdaondoHaras Santa InésHaras Santa Inés2200 meters2:14.031 lengths12016Conviction4Eduardo Ortega PavónMarcelo Vivas RubénStud Los MoureHaras Orilla del Monte2200 meters2:19.362 lengths12015Furia Cruzada3Juan Cruz VillagraAlfredo F. Gaitán DassiéHaras CachaguaHaras Dadinco2200 meters2:18.192 lengths12014Malacostumbrada3Juan Cruz CostaJosé Luis PalaciosStud San JupeHaras La Pasion2200 meters2:16.784 lengths12013Candy Marie3Rodrigo G. BlancoCarlos D. EtchechouryHaras Santa Maria de ArarasHaras Santa Maria de Araras2200 meters2:15.90 length12012Malibu Queen3Walter Ariel AguirreJuan Sebastian MaldottiHaras Santa Maria de ArarasHaras Santa Maria de Araras2000 meters2:02.26 neck12011Malpensa4Adrián M. GiannettiJuan Bautista UdaondoHaras Santa InésHaras Santa Inés2000 meters2:01.398 lengths12010Ollagua4Altair DomingosJosé Martins AlvesHaras La ProvidenciaHaras La Providencia2000 meters2:01.602 lengths12009Cayaya3Juan Carlos NoriegaJuan Carlos MaldottiStud Tombo2000 meters2:02.49 length12008Luna Arrabalera5Mario Rubén NuñezHugo Daniel SanaguaHaras Ni ManorHaras Ni Manor2000 meters2:02.201 length12007Estricta3Juan Carlos NoriegaJuan Carlos MaldottiStud La EsperanzaHaras Vacacion1600 meters1:33.212 lengths12006Carla Stripes3Gustavo E. CalventeRoberto PellegattaHaras MelincuéHaras Melincué1600 meters1:34.862 lengths12005Postergada3José Ricardo MéndezEduardo Carlos TadeiStud ChoppHaras Abolengo1600 meters1:33.973 lengths12004Salt Champ3Pablo Gustavo FaleroJuan Carlos MaldottiStud E.V.G.1600 meters1:35.18Head12003Miss Loren4Edgardo GramáticaMiguel Ángel GarcíaHaras FirmamentoHaras Firmamento1600 meters1:34.69 neck12002Slew the Moon5Pablo Gustavo FaleroJuan Carlos MaldottiHaras VacacionHaras Vacacion1600 meters1:37.27 neck12001Real Number3Jorge ValdiviesoJuan Carlos EtchechouryHaras La QuebradaHaras La Quebrada1600 meters1:36.121 lengths12000Mi Sureña3Jacinto R. HerreraDomingo Elías PascualStud BonaventuraHaras La Quebrada1600 meters1:34.915 lengths11999Speeding Star3Julio César MéndezJuan Carlos EtchechouryHaras Orilla del Monte1600 meters1:36.235 lengths11998Giulie-Halo4Jacinto R. HerreraErnesto Eusebio RomeroStud Monte Mayor1600 meters1:37.22 neck11997Rimel5Jacinto R. HerreraJuan Carlos EtchechouryHaras La QuebradaHaras La Quebrada1600 meters1:37.385 lengths11996Syzygy5Oscar Fabian ContiEduardo M. Martínez de HozHaras ComalalHaras Comalal1600 meters1:36.061 lengths11995La Olla3Horacio E. KaramanosJosé Luis PalaciosStud El DoguitoHaras Comalal1600 meters1:35.12 head11994Southern Filly3Juan Carlos NoriegaJuan Carlos EtchechouryStud ForegoHaras La Quebrada1600 meters1:33.08 neck21993Pescara3Daniel Jorge OjedaAntonio Derli GómezStud Bakota1600 meters1:36.142 lengths21992So Lovely4Miguel Angel SaratiDomingo Elías PascualHaras Santa Maria de ArarasHaras Santa Maria de Araras1600 meters1:38.44Neck21991La Charlatana3Jorge ValdiviesoHaras La BiznagaHaras La Biznaga1600 meters1:34.9021990Fail3Edgardo GramáticaJuan Alberto MaldottiStud La Titina1600 meters1:35.6721989La Brea6Rodolfo Rivero RoqueAlfonso L. SalvatiStud Jorge de Atucha1600 meters1:36.87Head21988Black Sheep3Miguel Angel SaratiEdgardo Oscar MartucciStud Nebek1600 meters2
Earlier winners (incomplete)
References