G1 Winner Ionosfera Wins G2 Clasico Otono

Group I winner Ionosfera (3f Practical Joke x Photosphere, by Galileo) registered another group victory on Friday when the Practical Joke filly beat her elders in the Group II Clasico Otono over 1 ¼ miles.

Racing on the turf at Club HIpico Santiago against males, Ionosfera was content to race in third early in the race as the field sorted itself into a single file group a few lengths behind the pacemaker. That runner started pulling away as the field raced into the turn, but jockey Rafael Cisternas didn’t seem concerned as he let his mount pick her own pace.

That pace picked up as the field approached the stretch and Ionosfera galloped up to the leader, who wasn’t ready to give in. A brief duel occurred, but once Ionosfera put him away she started to build her margin.

Most of the field was no match for the winner, but another horse closed late to finish just behind Ionosfera in the end.

Trained by Juan Silva for Gale, the Haras Pasa Nevado-bred has won four races with three of those coming at the group level. In addition to her Group I victory, she also has two other Group I placings and a Group I fourth to her name as well from nine starts.

She is out of Galileo’s Photosphere, a half-sister to stakes winner Quenched and Group I placed Raincoat. Third dam Sky Love is the matriarch of a family that includes Group I winners Nebraska Tornado and Westover among a strong group of stakes winners.

Practical Joke is the sire of eight stakes winners and 16 stakes performers worldwide overall in 2024 with that group including Grade I Kentucky Derby entrant Domestic Product.