Latency Takes Gran Premio Latinoamericano

Haras Las Dos Manos's Latency stamped himself as South America's best horse on Saturday as he swept from far back in the pack to capture the $150,000 Gran Premio Latinoamericano (Uru-I) at Uruguay's Maronas National Racetrack.

The win gave Argentina its fourth victory in the international invitational. Latency, a versatile son of Slew Gin Fizz-Latencia, overtook the game Brazilian-bred mare Necessaire, a member of the Uruguayan contingent, in deep stretch and stopped the clock in 2:00.27 for the 2,000 meters.

A winner of grade I races at about 1 1/4 miles on turf and dirt, Latency is being compared to Gentlemen, another Argentine who eventually came to the United States for a successful run. In his race prior to the Latinoamericano, Latency scored over the same distance in 1:57.81.

Under a heady ride by Uruguayan native Julio Mendez, Latency tracked the pace set by the Peruvian mare Baleriana and Necessaire, then drifted toward the middle of the track for a sustained drive through the 580-yard slightly uphill stretch to prevail by 1 ¾ lengths over Necessaire. Another Argentine, Gal's Honey, finished third, with the Peruvian Baleriana holding off Chilean Super Bull for fourth.

Juan Udaondo trains Latency.