Clásico del Caribe
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The Clásico Internacional del Caribe or Caribbean Derby is the thoroughbred most important black-type stakes race in the Caribbean for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, held on the month of December. The race features the best 3-year-old colts and fillies from the countries which are members of the Confederacion Hipica del Caribe.
Along with the celebration of the Clásico Internacional del Caribe, four other international races are programmed during the weekend festivities. These races are the Copa Velocidad (Caribbean Sprint Cup) (6f), Copa Dama del Caribe (Caribbean Ladies' Classic) (8.5f), Copa Invitacional del Caribe (8f), and the Confraternity Cup (10f) for 3 & up horses.
The 2017 edition of the Clásico Internacional del Caribe was held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida. Gulfstream was the first pari-mutuel track outside of Latin American and the Caribbean to host the event. Bringing for the first time World class substance abuse rules to the most important Race of the Caribbean and a LEVELED field of competition for ALL the countries which are members of the Confederacion Hipica del CAribe.
History
The Clásico 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 Clásico a thoroughbred must be bred in one of the confederation member nations.
Panamá is the country with most winning in this black-type stakes with 15 followed by Venezuela with 14, Mexico with 11 and Puerto Rico with 8. Colombia and Dominican Republic has won the stakes only once. The Venezuelan jockey Emisael Jaramillo has more victories in this stake with 5 followed by Panamanian Cornelio Velásquez with 3.
Four jockeys have won both the Kentucky Derby and the Clasico Internacional del Caribe:
- Gustavo Ávila (Canonero II and Victoreado (VEN))
- Jacinto Vásquez (Genuine Risk, and Barremina (PAN))
- Laffit Pincay Jr. (Swale and Pikotazo (MEX))
- Joel Rosario (Orb and Sicotico (DOM))
Gustavo Ávila is the only jockey to win the Preakness Stakes and the Caribbean Derby (Canonero II and Victoreado (VEN)).
Five 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))
- Joel Rosario (Tonalist and Sicotico (DOM))
- Irad Ortiz Jr. (Creator and Jala Jala (MEX))
Venezuela is the only country to win on four consecutive occasions (with Bambera in 2009, Water Jet in 2010, Heisenberg in 2011 and El de Chine in 2012). On eleven 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), Alighieri and Jib Dancer (1997), Water Jet and Gran Charlie (2010); Panama with Cortisol and Gotti (1999), and El Tigre Mono and Chantik (2016); 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.
On one occasion a brother-sister team sired by the same horse were the first and second-place finishers: El Tigre Mono and Chantik finished 1–2 in 2016. Both were sired by Concerto.
The longest gap between winners of one country is of 14 years (Puerto Rico – Wiso G, 1968 to Guaybanex, 1982 and Soy Conquistador, 2007 to Tamborero, 2021).
Pikotazo (MEX) is the only winner of the Clásico del Caribe to run in the US Triple Crown Race (in the 1980 Belmont Stakes, finishing 10th).
Verset Dancer (PR) was the first filly to win the Clásico del Caribe, also establishing a track (the then Hipodromo El Comandante) and stake record (1:50:1/5). Six more fillies beside Verset Dancer have won the Clásico del Caribe: Galilea (COL) in 1984; Angelical (PAN) in 1996; Alexia (PAN) in 2001; Bambera (VEN) in 2009; Ninfa del Cielo (VEN) in 2014; and Jala Jala (MEX) in 2017.
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.
Five Clasico del Caribe winners went to win the Copa Confraternidad (Confraternity Cup): Verset Jet (PR) in 1994; My Own Business (VEN) in 2002 and 2003; Soy Conquistador (PR) in 2009; El Tigre Mono (PAN) in 2017; and Kukulkan (MEX) in 2019.
Winners of the Clásico Internacional del Caribe
| Year | Host Track | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | |
| 2024 | Venezuela La Rinconada | ||||||
| 2023 | Panama Presidente Remón | Panama Blessed Ben Hur | Luis Saez | Mario Estevez | Stud Dani Sam | 1:55.00 | |
| 2022 | Venezuela La Rinconada | Mexico Iniesta † | Paco Lopez | Oscar Gonzalez | Cuadra San Isidro | 1:51.09 | |
| 2021 | Puerto Rico Camarero | Puerto Rico Tamborero | Juan Carlos Diaz | Ramon Morales | Sonata Stable | 1:53.70 | |
| 2020 | Not held | ||||||
| 2019 | United States Gulfstream Park | Venezuela The Brother Slew | Paco Lopez | Paul Valery | Stud Chamberi | 1:51.76 | |
| 2018 | United States Gulfstream Park | Mexico Kukulkan † | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Fausto Gutierrez | Cuadra San Jorge | 1:54.80 | |
| 2017 | United States Gulfstream Park | Mexico Jala Jala ‡ | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Fausto Gutierrez | Cuadra San Jorge | 1:52.14 | |
| 2016 | Puerto Rico Camarero | Panama El Tigre Mono | Felix Salgado | Carlos Espino Guanti | Stud Marathon | 1:57.33 | |
| 2015 | Panama Presidente Remón | Panama Calinico | Jose Lezcano | Alberto Paz Rodríguez | Stud Campo Azul | 1:57:33 | |
| 2014 | Venezuela La Rinconada | Venezuela Ninfa del Cielo ‡ | Emisael Jaramillo | Juan Carlos Ávila | Stud El Oso Yogui | 1:51.00 | |
| 2013 | Panama Presidente Remón | Mexico Diamante Negro | Moisés Gonzalez | Ulises Silva Trejo | Cuadra Mapa | 1:54:54 | |
| 2012 | Puerto Rico Camarero | Venezuela El de Chine | Emisael Jaramillo | Juan Carlos Ávila | Stud Monte Piedad | 1:52.69 | |
| 2011 | Panama Presidente Remón | Venezuela Heisenberg | Emisael Jaramillo | Santos Mario Domínguez | Stud Jabces | 1:54.00 | |
| 2010 | Venezuela La Rinconada | Venezuela Water Jet † | Emisael Jaramillo | Gustavo Delgado | Establo El Fantasma | 1:48.80 | |
| 2009 | Puerto Rico Camarero | Venezuela Bambera ‡ | Edgar Pérez | Gustavo Delgado | Establo Paula-C | 1:51.60 | |
| 2008 | Puerto Rico Camarero | Dominican Republic Sicótico † | Joel Rosario | Eugenio Deschamps | Establo Jacksan | 1:52.54 | |
| 2007 | Puerto Rico Camarero | Puerto Rico Soy Conquistador | Hector Berrios | Máximo Gomez | Establo Edelsam | 1:50.06 | |
| 2006 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Panama Ay Papá | Fernando Jara | José Carrillo | Stud Angel C | 1:53.02 | |
| 2005 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Puerto Rico Borrascoso | Alexis Feliciano | Sammy Garcia | Silent Stable | 1:54.60 | |
| 2004 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Panama Spago † | Cornelio Velásquez | Moises Henriquez | Stud La Marea | 1:52.47 | |
| 2003 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Panama Cafajeste | Cornelio Velásquez | Rafael Fernández Prado | Stud Full House | 1:53.73 | |
| 2002 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Venezuela Gran Abuelo | Angel Castillo | Gustavo Delgado | Stud Los Grandes | 1:52.27 | |
| 2001 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Panama Alexia ‡ | Rosemary Homeister Jr. | Eric Gittens | Stud Campo Azul | 1:54.56 | |
| 2000 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Venezuela My Own Business | Emisael Jaramillo | Antonio Bellardi | Stud Fantasia | 1:51.76 | |
| 1999 | Panama Presidente Remón | Panama Cortisol | Camilo Pitty | Julio Torres | Stud Cantón | 1:52.20 | |
| 1998 | Trinidad and Tobago Santa Rosa Park | Panama Evaristo † | Jesus Barria | Roberto Arango | Stud El Naranjo | 1:52.22 | |
| 1997 | Venezuela La Rinconada | Venezuela Alighieri | Douglas Valiente | Aantonio Catanese | Stud San Omero | 1:50.40 | |
| 1996 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Panama Angelical ‡ | Roberto Perez | Roberto Arango | Stud Nakacat | 1:54.73 | |
| 1995 | Dominican Republic V Centenário | Mexico Locochón | Javier Matías | Juan Ruiz Garcia | Cuadra Santa Rita | 1:49.2/5 | |
| 1994 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Puerto Rico El Gran Nano | Julio Garcia | Jesus M. Rodriguez | Establo Tres M. | N/A | |
| 1993 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Puerto Rico Verset's Jet | Juan Cintrón | Jorge Maymo | Establo Mandarria | 1:51.2/5 | |
| 1992 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Panama Leonardo † | Cornelio Velásquez | Alberto Paz Rodriguez | Stud La Marea | 1:51.3/5 | |
| 1991 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Puerto Rico Vuelve Candy B. † | Julio Garcia | Candelario Bonilla | Establo Nori-Annette | N/A | |
| 1990 | Venezuela Santa Rita | Venezuela Don Fabián | Juan V. Tovar | César Cachazo | Stud Doña Félida | 1:59.0 | |
| 1989 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Panama Pan de los Pobres | Alfredo Smith Jr. | Felix Rodriguez Jr. | Lucky Four Stables | 1:53.1/5 | |
| 1988 | Mexico Caliente | Mexico Don Gabriel | Humberto Enriquez | Alfredo Márquez | Cuadra San Gabriel | 1:51.4/5 | |
| 1987 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Venezuela Rayo Laser | Rafael Torrealba | Agustin Bezara | Establo Tamborazo | 1:52.3/5 | |
| 1986 | Mexico Caliente | Venezuela Benemérito | Douglas Valiente | Daniel Perez | Stud Gorjeadora | 1:49.3/5 | |
| 1985 | Venezuela La Rinconada | Panama Patilargo | Victor Tejada | Felix Rodriguez Jr. | Militza y Carlos Romero | 1:58.0 | |
| 1984 | Panama Presidente Remón | Colombia Galilea ‡ | Jorge Duarte | Manuel Munar | Haras Santa Lucía | 1:57.2/5 | |
| 1983 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Puerto Rico Verset Dancer ‡ | Santos Navarro | Jose Maymo | Establo Pro | 1:50.1/5 | |
| 1982 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Puerto Rico Guaybanex | Juan Santiago | Juan M. Rodriguez | Establo Caribe | 1:53.3/5 | |
| 1981 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Panama El Cómico | Victor Tejada | Dario Ramos | Stud Los Novatos | 1:53.3/5 | |
| 1980 | Venezuela La Rinconada | Mexico Pikotazo † | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Alberto Barrera | Cuadra Just Horgus | 1:52.1/5 | |
| 1979 | Not held | ||||||
| 1978 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Mexico Ezgarta | Ruben Hernandez | Eusebio Razo Beltran | Cuadra Sigui | 1:51.0 | |
| 1977 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Venezuela Huracan Sí | Argenis Rosillo | Juan Vidal | Stud Balbico | 1:54.2/5 | |
| 1976 | Mexico Las Américas | Mexico Voy por Uno | Gustavo Marquez | Eusebio Razo Beltran | Cuadra Ely | 1:55.3/5 | |
| 1975 | Venezuela La Rinconada | Mexico Teziutlán | Alberto Zepeda | René Castillo | Jorge Sarur Aburto | 2:02.0 | |
| 1974 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Panama Barremina | Jacinto Vásquez | Alberto Paz Rodriguez | Stud Characo | 1:54.3/5 | |
| 1973 | Panama Presidente Remón | Panama Montecarlo † | Marcel Zuñiga | Felix Rodriguez | Dolores de Shulte | 1:57.3/5 | |
| 1972 | Not held | ||||||
| 1971 | Venezuela La Rinconada | Mexico Nacozareño | Guillermo Gavidia | Tomas Lopez Altamira | Cuadra Georgina | 1:54.0 | |
| 1970 | Panama Presidente Remón | Mexico Hashin | Miguel Yanez | Jose Barba | Cuadra Carrusel | 1:56.3/5 | |
| 1969 | Mexico Las Américas | Mexico Guadamur | Alberto Zepeda | Antonio Justo | Cuadra Carrusel | 1:52.4/5 | |
| 1968 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Puerto Rico Wiso G. | Carlos Lopez | Diego Acevedo | Cinderella Stud | 1:54.1/5 | |
| 1967 | Venezuela La Rinconada | Mexico El Comanche | Ruben Contreras | Claudino Hernandez | Cuadra San Luis | 1:56.3/5 | |
| 1966 | Puerto Rico El Comandante | Venezuela Victoreado | Gustavo Ávila | Domingo Noguera Mora | Stud Raga | 1:56.1/5 |
A † designates a Triple Crown Winner in their native country. A ‡ designates a filly.
- Notes:
Winners by country
| Country | Wins |
|---|---|
| Panama Panama | 15 |
| Venezuela Venezuela | 14 |
| Mexico Mexico | 14 |
| Puerto Rico Puerto Rico | 8 |
| Colombia Colombia | 1 |
| Dominican Republic Dominican Republic | 1 |