by Michael Burns

Group 1 winner Compasivo Cat surged late to win the $46,158 Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint (Arg-G1) on Saturday at Palermo.

The 1,000-meter (4.97-furlong) race was the final Group 1 event on the June 28 Carreras de las Estrellas program, but was canceled due to poor visibility from heavy fog and rescheduled for Saturday.

Sent off as the third choice in the 11-horse field, Compasivo Cat surged past favorite Pryka in the closing stages to post a half-length victory under Gustavo Calvente. The Credit, finished another neck back in third.

Trained by Roberto Pellegata, Compasivo Cat, a four-year-old Easing Along colt, completed the trip in  :53.77 on a track rated as fast, shaking off three straight runner-up finishes in group stakes to improve his record to five wins in ten career starts.

Winner at two of the Clasico Guillermo Kemmis (Arg-G2) and Gran Premio Suipacha (Arg-G1), one of the nation’s premier races for three-year-old sprinters, Compasivo Cat, scored his fourth group victory and second at the highest level for owner Stud Aladino.

Bred in Argentina by Haras El Alfalfar, Compasivo Cat is out of multiple Argentine group winner La Tosquera, by Tempranero (Chi). 

Michael Burns is a South American-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent