- Clasico del Caribe
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Grade I Stakes race Clasico Internacional del Caribe 
"The Caribbean Derby"Location Camarero Racetrack
Canovanas, Puerto RicoInaugurated 1966 Race type Thoroughbred Website ClasicoCaribe.Org Race information Distance 1 1/8 miles (9f) (1.800 meters) Track Dirt, Left-handed Qualification 3-year-old Weight Winner Countries: Colt/Gelding: 124 lbs
Filly: 118 lbs
Other Countries: Colt/Gelding/Filly: 116 lbsPurse US$400,000 The traditional Clasico Internacional del Caribe or Caribbean Derby is the richest thoroughbred Grade I stakes race in Latin America for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, held in Venezuela for 2010, on the first Sunday in December. The current holder of the title is the Venezuelan bred Water Jet, also the Triple Crown holder for 2010 in his native country. The race features the best 3 year old colts and fillies from Puerto Rico, Panama, Venezuela, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Along with the celebration of the Clasico Internacional del Caribe, four other international races are programmed during the weekend festivities. These races are the Copa Velocidad (Caribbean Sprint Cup) (6f), Dama del Caribe (Caribbean Ladies' Classic) (8.5f), The Invitational Cup (10f), and the Confraternity Cup (10f) for 3 & up horses. The latter event has been broadcast through ESPN and its stations on a yearly basis since 2000, given its popularity throughout the racing industry. Together with other news reporters from Central, South and Latin America, ESPN takes coverage of this breathtakingly emotional event throughout the United States, the Caribbean and all Latin America. The Serie Hípica del Caribe or Caribbean Series Championship has been so successful in the past years that the Confederación Hípica del Caribe and the horse racing authorities, together with tourism and economic government authorities in Puerto Rico, are working on expanding the number of races held in order to develop a Latin version of the Breeder's Cup.
Contents
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 Mexico and Venezuela with 9 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))
Mexico is the only country to win on three consecutive occasions (Guadamur - 1969, Hashin - 1970, Nacozareño - 1971). 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), 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 Stake 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 (2009).
Winners of the Clasico Internacional del Caribe
Clasico Internacional del Caribe Year Country Colt/Filly Jockey Trainer Owner Time Notes 2010 
Water Jet † Emisael Jaramillo Gustavo Delgado Establo El Fantasma 1:48.80 Stakes Record Ver Video 2009 Bambera ‡ Edgar Pérez Gustavo Delgado Establo Paula-C 1:51.60 Ver Video 2008 
Sicotico † Joel Rosario Eugenio Deschamps Establo Jacksan 1:52.54 Ver Video 2007 
Soy Conquistador Hector Berrios Máximo Gomez Establo Edelsam 1:50.06 NTR @ Camarero Racetrack Ver Video 2006 
Ay Papá Fernando Jara José Carrillo Stud Angel C 1:53.02 Ver Video 2005 Borrascoso Alexis Feliciano Sammy Garcia Silent Stable 1:54.60 Ver Video 2004 Spago † Cornelio Velasquez Moises Henriquez Stud La Marea 1:52.47 Ver Video 2003 Cafajeste Cornelio Velasquez Rafael Fernandez Prado Stud Full House 1:53.73 Ver Video 2002 Gran Abuelo Angel Castillo Gustavo Delgado Stud Los Grandes 1:52.27 Ver Video 2001 Alexia ‡ Rosemary Homeister, Jr. Eric Gittens Stud Campo Azul 1:54.56 Ver Video 2000 My Own Business Emisael Jaramillo Antonio Bellardi Stud Fantasia 1:51.76 Ver Video 1999 Cortisol Camilo Pitty Julio Torres Stud Cantón 1:52.20 Ver Video 1998 Evaristo † Jesus Barria Roberto Arango Stud El Naranjo --- Disqualification of High Security (VEN) to second place Ver Video 1997 Aligheri Douglas Valiente Aantonio Catanese Stud San Omero 1:50.40 Ver Video 1996 Angelical ‡ Roberto Perez Roberto Arango Stud Nakacat 1:54.73 Ver Video 1995 
Locochón Javier Matías Juan Ruiz Garcia Cuadra Santa Rita 1:49 2/5 Ver Video 1994 El Gran Nano Julio Garcia Jesus M. Rodriguez Establo Tres M. --- Disqualifications of Golden End (PUR) and Waki Boy (PUR)Ver Video 1993 Verset's Jet Juan Cintrón Jorge Maymo Establo Mandarria 1:51 2/5 Ver Video 1992 Leonardo † Cornelio Velasquez Alberto Paz Rodriguez Stud La Marea 1:51 3/5 Ver Video 1991 Vuelve Candy B. † Julio Garcia Candelario Bonilla Establo Nori-Annette --- Disqualifications of Rio Chamita (VEN) and Landrea (VEN)Ver Video 1990 Don Fabián Juan V. Tovar César Cachazo Stud Doña Félida 1:59.0 Held over 1 3/16 miles (1.900 meters) Ver Video 1989 Pan de los Pobres Alfredo Smith Jr. Felix Rodriguez Jr. Lucky Four Stables 1:53 1/5 Ver Video 1988 Don Gabriel Humberto Enriquez Alfredo Márquez Cuadra San Gabriel 1:51 4/5 Ver Video 1987 Rayo Lazer Rafael Torrealba Agustin Bezara Establo Tamborazo 1:52 3/5 Ver Video 1986 Benemérito Douglas Valiente Daniel Perez Stud Gorjeadora 1:49 3/5 Ver Video 1985 Patilargo Victor Tejada Felix Rodriguez Jr. Militza "Macy" y Cesar "Shanty" Romero 1:58 Held over 1 3/16 miles (1.900 meters) Ver Video 1984 
Galilea ‡ Jorge Duarte Manuel Munar Haras Santa Lucía 1:57 2/5 Ver Video 1983 Verset Dancer ‡ Santos Navarro Jose Maymo Establo Pro 1:50 1/5 Ver Video 1982 Guaybanex Juan Santiago Juan M. Rodriguez Establo Caribe 1:53 3/5 Ver Video 1981 El Cómico Victor Tejada Dario Ramos Stud Los Novatos 1:53 3/5 Ver Video 1980 Pikotazo † Laffit Pincay, Jr. Alberto Barrera Cuadra Just Horgus 1:52 1/5 Ver Video 1979 1978 Ezgarta Ruben Hernandez Eusebio Razo Beltran Cuadra Sigui 1:51 flat Ver Video 1977 Huracan Sí Argenis Rosillo Juan Vidal Stud Balbico 1:54 2/5 Ver Video 1976 Voy por Uno Gustavo Marquez Eusebio Razo Beltran Cuadra Ely 1:55 3/5 Ver Video 1975 Teziutlán Alberto Zepeda René Castillo Jorge Sarur Aburto 2:02 Held over 1 3/16 miles (1.900 meters) Ver Video 1974 Barremina Jacinto Vasquez Alberto Paz Rodriguez Stud Characo 1:54 3/5 Ver Video 1973 Montecarlo † Marcel Zuñiga Felix Rodriguez Dolores de Shulte 1:57 3/5 Ver Video 1972 1971 Nacozareño Guillermo Gavidia Tomas Lopez Altamira Cuadra Georgina 1:54 flat Ver Video 1970 Hashin Miguel Yanez Jose Barba Cuadra Carrusel 1:56 3/5 Ver Video 1969 Guadamur Alberto Zepeda Antonio Justo Cuadra Carrusel 1:52 4/5 1968 Wiso G. Carlos Lopez Diego Acevedo Cinderella Stud 1:54 1/5 Ver Video 1967 El Comanche Ruben Contreras Claudino Hernandez Cuadra San Luis 1:56 3/5 Ver Video 1966 Victoreado Gustavo Avila Domingo Noguera Stud Raga 1:56 1/5 Ver Video A † designates a Triple Crown Winner in their native country.
A ‡ designates a filly.Winners by Country
Panama = 13 times | Mexico = 10 times | Venezuela = 10 times | Puerto Rico = 8 times | Colombia = 1 time | Dominican Republic = 1 timeReferences
External links
Categories:- Racing series for horses
- Sports in Puerto Rico
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