Clasico Del Caribe - History

History

The Clasico Internacional del Caribe occurred after thirteen years of arduous work. Engineer Ramón Llobet Jr and Lic. Abelardo Ruiz Suria, among other distinguished Puerto Rican horsemen, created the event in 1966. This derby was designed in order to strengthen ties of friendship and brotherhood between the countries of the Caribbean. To be eligible to run in the Clasico a thoroughbred must be bred in one of the confederation member nations.

Panamá is the country with most winning in this stake with 13 followed by Venezuela with 12, Mexico with 10 and Puerto Rico with 8. Colombia and Dominican Republic has won the stake only once.

Three jockeys have won both the Kentucky Derby and the Clasico Internacional del Caribe:

• Gustavo Avila (Canonero II and Victoreado (VEN))
• Jacinto Vasquez (Genuine Risk, and Barremina (PAN))
• Laffit Pincay, Jr. (Swale and Pikotazo (MEX))

Gustavo Avila is the only jockey to win the Preakness Stakes and the Caribbean Derby (Canonero II and Victoreado (VEN)).

Three jockeys have won the Belmont Stakes and the Caribbean Derby:

• Ruben Hernandez (Coastal and Ezgarta (MEX))
• Laffit Pincay, Jr. (Conquistador Cielo, Swale, Caveat and Pikotazo (MEX))
• Fernando Jara (Jazil and Ay Papá (PAN))

Venezuela is the only country to win on four consecutive occasions (Bambera - 2009, Water Jet- 2010, Heisenberg - 2011, El de Chine- 2012).On ten occasions a country has managed to finish in the top two positions: Mexico with Guadamur and Gumiel (1969), Voy por Uno and Barrullero (1976) and Ezgarta and Gran Zar (1978), Venezuela with Rayo Laser and Gallardete (1987), Aligheri and Jib Dancer (1997), Water Jet (VEN) and Gran Charlie (VEN)(2010), Panama with Cortisol and Gotti (1999), and Puerto Rico with Vuelve Candy B. and Satin Charger (1991), Borrascoso and Shahid (2005), Soy Conquistador and Primero Nieto (2007). In 2009, for the first time officially two fillies occupied the top two positions: Bambera (VEN) and Vivian Record (MEX). In 1996 two fillies Angelical (PAN) and La Supernova (PR) occupied the top two positions but the latter was disqualified to the 3rd position.

The longest gap between winners of one country: 14 years - Puerto Rico (Wiso G - 1968 to Guaybanex - 1982).

Pikotazo (MEX) is the only winner of the Clasico del Caribe to run in the US Triple Crown Race (Belmont Stakes 1980) finishing 10th.

Verset Dancer(PR) was the first filly to win the Clasico del Caribe and established a track (El Comandante Race Track now Camarero) and stake record (1:50:1/5). The stake record was broken in 1986 by Benemérito (VEN) with 1:49:3/5 when the Clasico del Caribe was run in the Hipodromo Aguas Calientes in Mexico. Then in 1995 when the Clasico del Caribe was held in the Hipódromo V Centenario in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Locochón (MEX)established a new stake record with 1:49:2/5. Verset Dancer's track record was broken by Soy Conquistador (PR) in 2007 (1:50.06) when he won the Clasico del Caribe.

Four more fillies beside Verset Dancer have won the Clasico del Caribe: Galilea (COL)(1984), Angelical (PAN) (1996), Alexia (PAN) (2001)and Bambera (VEN) (2009).

Verset Jet (PR), winner in 1993 is a product out of Verset Dancer (PR), winner in 1983.

Rosemary Homeister, Jr. is the first(and so far only) female jockey to win the Clasico del Caribe.

Three Clasico del Caribe winners went to win the Copa Confraternidad (Confraternity Cup) 1993 Verset Jet (PR)(1994), 2000 My Own Business (VEN)(2002 and 2003) and 2007 Soy Conquistador (PR)(2009).