HILLSBOROUGH S. (gr. III ), Tampa Bay Downs , March 09, 2013 , $150,000 Guaranteed , value of race $150,000 , 4 yo's & up , About 1 1/8 miles , 1:48.92 Turf FM .

Brazilian-bred Old Tune has taken a liking to racing in the United States. The Wild Event mare, a champion 3-year-old filly and Triple Crown winner in Brazil, won the Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs March 9 for her second win in as many starts since her arrival from South America last year.

Facing 11 rivals in the about 11/8-mile stakes, Old Tune triumphed under co-top weight of 124 pounds by 11/4 lengths over Irish-bred Forces of Darkness. Old Tune had begun the year with a 13/4-length score in the Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay.

Old Tune races for Goncalo Borges Torrealba’s Stud TNT. She was bred by Torrealba in partnership with Ibrihim Iris in the name Haras Internacional and raced in Brazil in the Haras Internacional name.

“The two men are good friends and have bred good horses for years,” said Dr. Stephen Jackson, a Kentucky adviser to Torrealba.

Old Tune arrived in North America after winning the Grande Premio Zelia Gonzaga Peixoto De Castro-Stud TNT (Brz-I) last April. “She had won the Triple Crown, and there was nothing more to prove there,” Jackson said.

Jackson and his wife, Debbie, bred 2012 graded stakes winner Kitty in a Tizzy with Stud TNT.

Stud TNT achieved success in North America with earlier Brazilian imports Molengao, Naughty Rafaela, Neuilly, Out of Control, Runforthedoe, and Lundy’s Liability (in partnership). Molengao, Out of Control, and Lundy’s Liability, all homebreds, were multiple graded winners in California. Molengao won the Mervyn LeRoy (gr. II) and San Antonio (gr. II) handicaps, and Out of Control captured the American Invitational Handicap (gr. IIT) and the Oak Tree Mile Stakes (gr. IIT). Lundy’s Liability took the San Antonio and the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. II).

Wild Event, whose biggest win came in the Early Times Turf Classic Stakes (gr. IT), has sired 44 stakes winners. At last report, he stood at Haras Santa Maria de Araras in Brazil.—D.S.