# Clásico El Ensayo

The Clásico El Ensayo, also known as the Clásico El Ensayo Mega for sponsorship reasons, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Chile open to three-year-olds, run at Club Hípico de Santiago in Santiago, run over a distance of 2,400 metres (1.5 mi). First run in 1873, it is the fourth oldest horse race in the Americas (after the Queen's Plate, Travers Stakes, and Belmont Stakes), and the oldest in Latin America.
It is generally considered the most important horse race in Chile, on par with the Epsom Derby, the American classics, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France, and the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina. It is the first race in the Chilean Triple Crown.
El Ensayo is restricted to only horses that have won at least one race.

## History

The Clásico El Ensayo was first run at a distance of 1200 meters, and has been contested at a variety of distances:
* 1200 meters: 1873-1880
* 1500 meters: 1881-1883
* 1600 meters: 1884-1892
* 1800 meters: 1893-1904, 1908
* 1900 meters: 1905-1907, 1909
* 2000 meters: 1910-1920
* 2300 meters: 1921-1925
* 2400 meters: 1926 to present
Of the first eight editions contested, six were won by horses sired by Fanfarrón.
The greatest upsets were the 104-1 victory of Parral in 1947 and the 98-1 victory of Cambridge in 2018.
In the early twentieth century, imported horses could run in the race, but by the 1950s, the race was restricted to Chilean-bred horses only, a restriction which lasted until 1984.
Starting gates were first used in the 1971 edition.
The running of 1999 was considered the 'feast of fillies', with fillies coming in first, second, third, and fourth.
Since 2004, the race has been consistently timed to one-hundredth of a second.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was run in December instead of its usual date in late October or early November.

## Records

Speed Record:
* 2:23.21 – Wolf (1990)
* 2:23 2/5 – Monroe (1986)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 7 – Carlos M. Zavala (1877, 1881, 1882, 1883, 185, 1887, 1891, 1895)
* 6 – Luis Torres (1995, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2013)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 10 – Patricio Baeza (2006, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
* 7 – Juan Cavieres Mella (1922, 1930, 1934, 1938, 1945, 1954, 1960)
* 6 – Juan Cavieres A. (1982, 1983, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2004)
Most wins by an owner (since 1954):
* 5 – Stud Don Alberto (2006, 2008, 2016, 2021, 2022)
* 4 – Stud Matancilla (1980, 1983, 1989, 1992)
Most wins by a breeder:
* 9 – Haras Don Alberto (1994, 2006, 2008, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
* 8 – Haras Santa Isabel (1927, 1963, 1965, 1972, 1974, 1978)
* 8 – Haras Matancilla (1976, 1980, 1983, 1989, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2009)
* 7 – Haras de Pirque (1988, 1998, 2000)
* 7 – Haras Santa Amelia (1968, 1971, 1982, 1990, 1996, 1997, 2004)

## Winners since 1954

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Breeder | Time |
| 2024 | Doña Clota ƒ | Oscar Ulloa | Patricio Baeza A. | Doña Lili | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:27.20 |
| 2023 | Kay Army | Oscar Ulloa | Patricio Baeza A. | Stud Identic | Agricola Taomina Ltda. | 2:29.46 |
| 2022 | Fortino | Oscar Ulloa | Patricio Baeza A. | Stud Haras Don Alberto | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:26.87 |
| 2021 | Y Nada Másƒ | Oscar Ulloa | Patricio Baeza A. | Stud Haras Don Alberto | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:27.41 |
| 2020 | Breakpoint | Kevin Espina | Patricio Baeza A. | Stud R.T. | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:29.14 |
| 2019 | Look Pen | Gonzalo Ulloa | Patricio Baeza A. | Stud Identic | Agricola Taomina Ltda. | 2:26.18 |
| 2018 | Cambridge | Pedro Robles | Jorge A. Inda de la C. | Stud Doña Eliana | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:26.48 |
| 2017 | Robert Bruce | Jorge A. Gonzalez | Patricio Baeza A. | Haras Convento Viejo | Haras Convento Viejo | 2:26.14 |
| 2016 | Color Rosa ƒ | Hernan E. Ulloa | Jorge Inda M. | Stud Haras Don Alberto | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:25.64 |
| 2015 | Wapi ƒ | Gonzalo Ulloa | Juan C. Silva S. | Stud Vendaval | Haras Paso Nevado | 2:24.22 |
| 2014 | Il Campione | Héctor I. Berríos | Sergio Inda M. | Stud Alvidal | Haras Paso Nevado | 2:23.56 |
| 2013 | Sposito | Luis Torres | Guillermo Aguirre A. | Haras Curiche | Haras Curiche | 2:25.60 |
| 2012 | Giant's Steps | Héctor I. Berríos | Patricio Baeza A. | Los Tanderos | Haras Puerta de Hierro | 2:27.11 |
| 2011 | Dime Que | Elías Toledo | Miguel Medina T. | Haras Porta Pía | Haras Porta Pía | 2:25.03 |
| 2010 | El Farrero | Fernando Díaz | Jorge Inda M. | Stud Masaiva | Haras Paso Nevado | 2:25.60 |
| 2009 | Belle Watling ƒ | Héctor I. Berríos | Patricio Baeza A. | Stud Don Theo | Haras Matancilla | 2:24.54 |
| 2008 | Stolen Heart ƒ | Victor Miranda | Gerardo Silva B. | Stud Haras Don Alberto | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:27.33 |
| 2007 | Paloma Infiel ƒ | Rafael Cisternas | Héctor Castillo S. | Haras El Sheik | Haras El Sheik | 2:26.84 |
| 2006 | Eres Magica ƒ | Fernando Díaz | Patricio Baeza A. | Stud Haras Don Alberto | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:24.95 |
| 2005 | Porfido | Luis Torres | Jorge Inda M. | Haras Sumaya | Haras Sumaya | 2:26.09 |
| 2004 | Pecoiquen | Claudio Acevedo | Juan Cavieres A. | Stanamelino | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:24.94 |
| 2003 | Pel | Luis Torres | Pedro Polanco B. | Kokekil | Haras Casablanca | 2:26.20 |
| 2002 | Veedor | Gonzalo Ulloa | Juan Silva G. | Stud Vendaval | Haras Paso Nevado | 2:27.60 |
| 2001 | Crisantemo | Gustavo Barrera | Emilio Quiroga I. | Stud Guzo | Haras Matancilla | 2:24.60 |
| 2000 | Penamacor | Luis Torres | Juan Cavieres A. | Stud Guha | Haras de Pirque | 2:26.00 |
| 1999 | Crystal House ƒ | Luis Torres | Juan Cavieres A. | Stud El Cedro | Haras Matancilla | 2:26.1 |
| 1998 | Perssonet | Johann Albornoz | Samuel Fuentes P. | Haras Rio Enco | Haras de Pirque | 2:27.0 |
| 1997 | Pompeyo | Héctor Barrera | José T. Allende F. | Stud Panguipulli | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:24.1 |
| 1996 | Dancing Place | Luis Muñoz | José T. Allende F. | Stud Santa Amelia | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:25.3 |
| 1995 | Husares | Luis Torres | Juan Cavieres A. | Stud Soledad | Haras Villa Rosa | 2:27.3 |
| 1994 | Pradilla ƒ | Pedro Santos | Oscar Gonzalez G. | Stud Trily | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:26.0 |
| 1993 | Early Gray | Héctor Salazar | Jorge Inda G. | Stud Cinzia | Haras Picoltue | 2:25.1 |
| 1992 | Penumbra ƒ | Luis Muñoz | Alvaro Breque V. | Stud Matancilla | Haras Matancilla | 2:28.3 |
| 1991 | Porta Pia ƒ | Héctor Salazar | Alfredo Bagu R. | Stud Don Cotto | Haras Figuron | 2:26.0 |
| 1990 | Wolf | Luis Muñoz | José T. Allende F. | Haras Santa Amelia | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:23.21 |
| 1989 | Chango | Sergio Vásquez | Antonio Bullezú M. | Stud Matancilla | Haras Matancilla | 2:24.4 |
| 1988 | Charlatán | Sergio Vásquez | Teófilo Jacial A. | Teófilo Jacial A. | Haras Blackie | 2:23.4 |
| 1987 | Warrior | Oscar Escobar | Alfonso Zamorano B. | Stud Martino | Haras Martino | 2:25.0 |
| 1986 | Monroe | Juan Barraza | José Melero B. | Stud SUR | Haras Villa Rosa | 2:23.2 |
| 1985 | Lamentado | Gustavo Barrera | Alvaro Breque V. | Stud Cimera | Haras Dadinco | 2:26.2 |
| 1984 | Punch | Roberto Pérez | Antonio Bullezú N. | Stud El Bosque | Haras Pucudegua | 2:25 4/5 |
| 1983 | Lonquimay | Sergio Vásquez | Juan Cavieres A. | Stud Matancilla | Haras Matancilla | 2:24 |
| 1982 | Chesterton | Sergio Vásquez | Juan Cavieres A. | Patricio Baeza A. | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:25 2/5 |
| 1981 | Saint Mesme | Claudio Leighton | Pedro Bagú H. | Stud Ibiza | Haras La Capilla | 2:25 |
| 1980 | Premio Nobel | Elías Silva | Pedro Medina Ch. | Stud Matancilla | Haras Matancilla | 2:25 1/5 |
| 1979 | Songe Bleu ƒ | Claudio Leighton | Aquiles E. Martínez | Stud Titi | | 2:30 |
| 1978 | Person | Alberto Poblete | Teófilo Jacial A. | Stud Castilla | Haras Santa Isabel | 2:26 3/5 |
| 1977 | Clear Song | Alberto Poblete | Oscar Silva G. | Stud Max Val | Haras Santa Cecilia | 2:27 2/5 |
| 1976 | Galeno | Rodrigo Cea | Pedro Medina Ch. | Stud Sonia | Haras Matancilla | 2:29 |
| 1975 | Royal Champion | José M. Aravena | Fernando Jacial A. | Stud Champion | Haras Santa Eladia | 2:28 1/5 |
| 1974 | Strong | José M. Aravena | Antonio Bullezú N. | Stud Chimbarongo | Haras Santa Isabel | 2:28 3/5 |
| 1973 | Espadaña ƒ | Carlos Rivera | Victorino Romo | Stud Macul | Haras El Bosque | 2:28 2/5 |
| 1972 | Protectora ƒ | Valentín Ubilla | Delfin Bernal | Sergio Kohon | Haras Santa Isabel | 2:26 2/5 |
| 1971 | El Tirón | Carlos A. Pezoa | Ernesto Inda G. | Stud Los Conejitos | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:27 |
| 1970 | Naspur | Carlos Sepúlveda | César Covarrubias V. | Haras El Bosque | Haras El Bosque | 2:26 4/5 |
| 1969 | Vagabundo | Carlos Astorga | Alvaro Breque V. | Haras Dadinco | Haras Scelto | 2:26 1/5 |
| 1968 | Zenith | Aurelio Nuñez | Luis Gajardo | Stud Zenit | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:28 1/5 |
| 1967 | Quilche | Héctor Pilar | Alvaro Breque V. | Stud Arizcún | Haras Scelto | 2:26 4/5 |
| 1966 | Rayita ƒ | Aurelio Nuñez | Luis Romero | Stud Montecarlo | Haras Los Helechos | 2:26 |
| 1965 | Prólogo | Carlos Astorga | César Covarrubias V. | Stud Santa Isabel | Haras Santa Isabel | 2:27 4/5 |
| 1964 | Maporal | Sergio Vera | Jorge Inda G. | Stud Capri | | 2:28 3/5 |
| 1963 | Par de Ases | Enrique Araya | Osvaldo Jara | Stud L. O. S. O. | Haras Santa Isabel | 2:28 |
| 1962 | Curiche | Luis Espinoza | Luis Espinoza | Estanislao Anguita A. | Haras Curiche | 2:27 |
| 1961 | Miss Therese ƒ | Rogelio Parodi | Jorge Inda G. | Stud Capri | | 2:27 |
| 1960 | La Sexta ƒ | Enrique Araya | Juan Cavieres M. | Stud La Bastille | Haras Curiche | 2:26 |
| 1959 | Maritain | Pedro Ulloa | Antonio Bullezú N. | Stud Anita | | 2:30 3/5 |
| 1958 | Tolpán | Omar Olivares | Fernando León F. | Stud Haras Victoria | Haras Victoria | 2:27 2/5 |
| 1957 | Babú | Enrique Araya | Alvaro Breque V. | Stud La Candelaria | Haras La Soledad | 2:28 |
| 1956 | Aysha ƒ | A. Salazar | Carlos Rodríguez | Stud Effie | Haras San Juan | 2:28 1/5 |
| 1955 | Eugenia ƒ | Luis Espinoza | Valentín Ramírez | Germán Reckman | | 2:28 2/5 |
| 1954 | Provita ƒ | Alfonso Poblete | Juan Cavieres M. | Santiago Lyon S. | Haras La Isla | 2:28 3/5 |
ƒ indicates a filly winner

## Earlier winners

* 1873: Dinorah* ƒ
* 1874: Pensamiento* ƒ
* 1875: Gavilán*
* 1876: Reina Mora* ƒ
* 1877: Danubio
* 1878: Pilpilco*
* 1879: Moro*
* 1880: Godolphin*
* 1881: Liguria*
* 1882: Pisco
* 1883: Miraflores ƒ
* 1884: Esperanza† ƒ
* 1885: Cachaporal
* 1886: Genovés
* 1887: Wanderer
* 1888: Querelema* ƒ
* 1889: Orompello*
* 1890: Rosicler*
* 1891: Sky ƒ
* 1892: Floriana* ƒ
* 1893: Thunder*
* 1894: Triunfo*
* 1895: Toldería ƒ
* 1896: Gibelet
* 1897: Oro
* 1898: Orbetello*
* 1899: Game*
* 1900: Paulette* ƒ
* 1901: Nanette ƒ
* 1902: Rebeca ƒ
* 1903: Yolanda* ƒ
* 1904: Nutmeg* ƒ
* 1905: Petrarque*
* 1906: Hasard
* 1907: Pehuenco*
* 1908: Jongleur
* 1909: Turín
* 1910: Jaque Mate*
* 1911: Belle Etoile* ƒ
* 1912: Iscariote
* 1913: Sándalo*
* 1914: Rochela ƒ
* 1915: Dorama ƒ
* 1916: Captain*
* 1917: Epsom
* 1918: Cervantes
* 1919: Ugolin
* 1920: Auvernia
* 1921: Flapper
* 1922: Greenock
* 1923: Almodovar
* 1924: Urbión
* 1925: El Ocho
* 1926: Decurión
* 1927: Tutti Frutti
* 1928: Melchor
* 1929: Pierre Loti
* 1930: Freire
* 1931: Trampiato
* 1932: Kashmir ƒ
* 1933: Chansonnier
* 1934: Quemazón ƒ
* 1935: Rokof
* 1936: El Mago
* 1937: Rosarina ƒ
* 1938: Grimsby‡
* 1939: Fouché
* 1940: Filibustero
* 1941: Rival
* 1942: Figaro
* 1943: Quemarropa
* 1944: Barranco
* 1945: Tábano
* 1946: Florete
* 1947: Parral
* 1948: Taimado
* 1949: Olimpo
* 1950: Empire
* 1951: Liberty
* 1952: Antar
* 1953: Saint Oregon
* "Mestizo"; not a pure Thoroughbred. Many early Chilean races, including El Ensayo, were open to "mestizo" horses who weren't full Thoroughbred.
ƒ indicates a filly winner
†Esperanza was declared the winner after the disqualification of Stockwell.
‡Dead-heat between Grimsby and Valeriano, with the win awarded to Grimsby.