by Michael Burns

Turf specialist Interaction continued his ascent in the three-year-old division with an impressive come-from-behind victory on Saturday at San Isidro in the Gran Premio Jockey Club (Arg-G1), the second leg of Argentina's Triple Crown.

Under a perfectly timed ride by Edwin Talaverano, the Easing Along colt overhauled Group 2 winner and Polla de Potrillos (Arg-G1) (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) runner-up Quartier Latin in the final stride to win by a head.

Stonestreet Stables South America’s Dedini finished another 3 1/2 lengths back in third, a neck clear of Two Thousand Guineas winner Don Valiente in the nine-horse field.

Talaverano, a former leading rider in Peru for ten consecutive seasons and winner of three editions of the Carlos Pellegrini during the 1990s, bagged four winners on the card, including a Group 1 double.

Trained by Alfredo Gaitan Dassie, Interaction completed 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) in 1:58.47 on firm turf.

Fresh off an impressive four-length victory at San Isidro in the Clasico Ensayo (Arg-G2) on September 19, Interaction registered his second Group 1 victory on turf and his fourth overall in eight career starts for owner-breeder Jorge Cardemil’s Haras Futuro.

Winner of the Gran Premio Raul y Raul E. Chevalier (Arg-G1) at San Isidro during his juvenile season, Interaction is out of the Ride the Rails mare Inter Rails.

No horse has completed a sweep of the Argentine Triple Crown since Refinado Tom (Arg) in 1996.

Earlier on the card, Talaverano guided group stakes winner Maruco Plus to his most significant career victory in the Gran Premio San Isidro (Arg-G1).

The consistent five-year-old Alpha Plus horse earned his first Group 1 victory by defeating some of Argentina's top milers.

Owned by Alberto Testino’s Stud Los Gauchos and bred by Haras La Gringa, Maruco Plus is out of the Ride the Rails mare Villa Hipica, a half sister to Group 1 winner Tuozzo. He is trained by Natalio Mezzotero, who saddled his first Group 1 winner.

Also on the card, six-year-old sprint specialist Crazy Plus posted a repeat victory in the Gran Premio Suipacha (Arg-G1).

Under Jose Ricardo Mendez, the Alpha Plus horse completed 1,000 meters (4.97 furlongs) in :54.22 for his second Group 1 tally and second straight win for owner Stud El Charabon.

Bred by Haras Panamericano, Crazy Plus is out of Argentine Group 2-placed winner Nut Case, by Perfect Parade, and is a full brother to stakes winner Bien Loquita.

Michael Burns is a South American-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent