Bambera: Venezuelan super filly is expected to race in the US after competing Sunday in Puerto Rico.
The Internacional Clasico del Caribe, or Caribbean Derby, is better known Stateside for the jockeys that have won it rather than for the horses. Rosemary Homeister Jr. won in 2001, Cornelio Velasquez won in 2003 and 2004, and Fernando Jara won in 2006. Their mounts were: Alexia (2001), Cafajeste (2003), Spago (2004), and Ay Papa (2006), not exactly household names here although well known in their respective countries. This year’s race, on Sunday at Hipodromo Camarero in Puerto Rico, may change all that because a Venezuelan 3-year-old filly by the name of Bambera who’s won 15 of 17 starts, with the local reputation of a Rachel Alexandra or Zarkava, is headed to America for a 2010 campaign. For Venezuelans, the Clasico del Caribe is viewed as just a pit stop for her on the way here. Facing and defeating males has been her MO, and you can catch a video of her last race in Venezuela here.
The Clasico is contested at 1800 meters (about 9 furlongs) on dirt. Bambera’s last start in the Simon Bolivar was over 2400 meters (about 12 furlongs), so she’ll have to cut back significantly while facing international competition abroad. Venezuelan form has been internationally insignificant for the most part since Canonero II won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1971, but from the reputation that precedes her Bambera may be something special. She’s by the Sadler’s Wells stallion Water Poet, which makes her from the same sire line as Rachel Alexandra, and like Rachel Bambera has speed to dictate races. Like Medaglia d’Oro, sire of Rachel, and El Prado, the Sadler’s Wells sire of Medaglia d’Oro, Water Poet has made a name for himself in Venezuela — he’s a multiple champion sire there — by getting dirt runners.
Cornelio Velasquez and Eibar Coa will have mounts this year, plus Houston Astros star Carlos Lee will be represented in the race by the Panamanian Fidelito – listed under the ownership of the appropriately named Haras Los Sluggers. Lee, a native of Panama, is part owner of the colt, and is one of many Latin MLB stars who’ve dabbled in racing.
Click here for the past performances of the Clasico del Caribe (Race #7).
BRING IT ON SID!!! This is exactly what we need right now! Rachel is resting, Zenyatta is only parading, and the Horse Of The Year war is starting to be a real pain. Enter Bambera!!!
BAMBERA. Zarkava. Zenyatta. The name alone does it, pulling fans emotional strings and marking this filly with the one named greatness known by stars . . . another “Madonna” of horse racing. This is exactly what we need to power up racing against any end of the racing year blues. And no one is talking about her but you- Thank You!
BAMBERA. Next conquest- USA.
Sid, where are you getting the info that this filly will be coming to the U.S. for 2010? I’d like to read more about her, but I am finding precious little on the web.
Theresa if she wins the Clasic tomorrow in Puerto Rico they’re bringing her straight to Florida, she won’t go back to Venezuela. Just so you know, she has won 15 of 17 races, the only two loses, were two second places, she lost in her very first race, and then she lost the second of the triple crown. However in her defense, she raced 6 times in 8 weeks, and also the jockey made a terrible desicion by asking her to race too early, at the end she had nothing left, she did win all three of the philly triple crown and two of the open, she would have been the only hexacrown winner.
She has beaten both male and females and she wins with ease, she can run in the front as well as in the middle. She runs a lot like Rachel Alexandra. I don’t think she could hold Zenyatta, but I would like to see her race R.A., as of the Caribbean Derby I really find it hard to believe that she will lose.
thanks juan…are you connected with the filly’s ownership? will the trainer come with her?
theresa, most recently from contacts in venezuela.
As expected, both Bambera and Vivian Record from Mexico were the focus of attention before the derby and during it as well, but also as predicted Bambera showed her racing class and outmatched Vivian Record for an easy win. South America has their Rachel Alexandra in the legs of Bambera. Hopefully we will witness a match between these two outstanding fillies.
looking forward to it JUan.