| Horse Race: | Clásico El Ensayo |
| Inaugurated: | 1873 |
| Class: | Group 1 |
| Surface: | Turf |
| Purse: | CLP$101,250,000 (2024) 1st: CLP$75,000,000 |
| Weight: | 57 kg |
| Qualification: | Three-year-olds |
| Track: | Right-handed |
| Distance: | 2400m |
| Location: | Club Hípico de Santiago Santiago, Chile |
| Race Type: | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor: | Mega |
The Clásico El Ensayo, also known as the Clásico El Ensayo Mega for sponsorship reasons, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Chile open to three-year-olds, run at Club Hípico de Santiago in Santiago, run over a distance of 2400m (7,900feet).[1] First run in 1873, it is the fourth oldest horse race in the Americas (after the Queen's Plate, Travers Stakes, and Belmont Stakes), and the oldest in Latin America.[2]
It is generally considered the most important horse race in Chile, on par with the Epsom Derby, the American classics, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France, and the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina.[3] It is the first race in the Chilean Triple Crown.
El Ensayo is restricted to only horses that have won at least one race.[4]
The Clásico El Ensayo was first run at a distance of 1200 meters, and has been contested at a variety of distances:[5] [6]
Of the first eight editions contested, six were won by horses sired by Fanfarrón.
The greatest upsets were the 104-1 victory of Parral in 1947 and the 98-1 victory of Cambridge in 2018.[7]
In the early twentieth century, imported horses could run in the race, but by the 1950s, the race was restricted to Chilean-bred horses only, a restriction which lasted until 1984.[8]
Starting gates were first used in the 1971 edition.[9]
The running of 1999 was considered the 'feast of fillies', with fillies coming in first, second, third, and fourth.
Since 2004, the race has been consistently timed to one-hundredth of a second.[10]
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was run in December instead of its usual date in late October or early November.
Speed Record:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner (since 1954):
Most wins by a breeder:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Breeder | Time | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Doña Clota ƒ | Oscar Ulloa | Patricio Baeza | Doña Lili | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:27.20 | [12] | |
| 2023 | Kay Army | Oscar Ulloa | Patricio Baeza | Stud Identic | Agricola Taomina Ltda. | 2:29.46 | [13] | |
| 2022 | Fortino | Oscar Ulloa | Patricio Baeza | Stud Haras Don Alberto | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:26.87 | [14] | |
| 2021 | Y Nada Másƒ | Oscar Ulloa | Patricio Baeza | Stud Haras Don Alberto | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:27.41 | [15] | |
| 2020 | Breakpoint | Kevin Espina | Patricio Baeza | Stud R.T. | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:29.14 | [16] | |
| 2019 | Look Pen | Gonzalo Ulloa | Patricio Baeza | Stud Identic | Agricola Taomina Ltda. | 2:26.18 | [17] | |
| 2018 | Cambridge | Pedro Robles | Jorge A. Inda de la C. | Stud Doña Eliana | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:26.48 | [18] | |
| 2017 | Robert Bruce | Jorge A. Gonzales | Patricio Baeza | Haras Convento Viejo | Haras Convento Viejo | 2:26.14 | [19] | |
| 2016 | Color Rosa ƒ | Hernan Ulloa | Jorge Inda M. | Stud Haras Don Alberto | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:25.64 | [20] | |
| 2015 | Wapi ƒ | Gonzalo Ulloa | Juan C. Silva S. | Stud Vendaval | Haras Paso Nevado | 2:24.22 | [21] | |
| 2014 | Il Campione | Héctor I. Berríos | Sergio Inda | Stud Alvidal | Haras Paso Nevado | 2:23.56 | [22] | |
| 2013 | Sposito | Luis Torres | Guillermo Aguirre | Haras Curiche | Haras Curiche | 2:25.60 | [23] | |
| 2012 | Giant's Steps | Héctor I. Berríos | Patricio Baeza | Los Tanderos | Haras Puerta de Hierro | 2:27.11 | [24] | |
| 2011 | Dime Que | Elías Toledo | Miguel Medina | Haras Porta Pía | Haras Porta Pía | 2:25.03 | [25] | |
| 2010 | El Farrero | Fernando Díaz | Jorge Inda Meyer | Stud Masaiva | Haras Paso Nevado | 2:25.60 | [26] | |
| 2009 | Belle Watling ƒ | Héctor I. Berríos | Patricio Baeza | Stud Don Theo | Haras Matancilla | 2:24.54 | [27] | |
| 2008 | Stolen Heart ƒ | Victor Miranda | Gerardo Silva B. | Stud Haras Don Alberto | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:27.33 | [28] | |
| 2007 | Paloma Infiel ƒ | Rafael Cisternas | Héctor Castillo | Haras El Sheik | Haras El Sheik | 2:26.84 | [29] | |
| 2006 | Eres Magica ƒ | Fernando Díaz | Patricio Baeza | Stud Haras Don Alberto | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:24.95 | [30] | |
| 2005 | Porfido | Luis Torres | Jorge Inda Meyer | Haras Sumaya | Haras Sumaya | 2:26.09 | [31] | |
| 2004 | Pecoiquen | Claudio Acevedo | Juan Cavieres A. | Stanamelino | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:24.94 | [32] | |
| 2003 | Pel | Luis Torres | Pedro Polanco | Kokekil | Haras Casablanca | 2:26.20 | [33] | |
| 2002 | Veedor | Gonzalo Ulloa | Juan Silva G. | Stud Vendaval | Haras Paso Nevado | 2:27.60 | [34] | |
| 2001 | Crisantemo | Gustavo Barrera | Emilio Quiroga | Stud Guzo | Haras Matancilla | 2:24.60 | [35] | |
| 2000 | Penamacor | Luis Torres | Juan Cavieres A. | Stud Guha | Haras de Pirque | 2:26.00 | [36] | |
| 1999 | Crystal House ƒ | Luis Torres | Juan Cavieres A. | Stud El Cedro | Haras Matancilla | 2:26.1 | ||
| 1998 | Perssonet | J. Albornoz | S. Fuentes P. | Haras Rio Enco | Haras de Pirque | 2:27.0 | ||
| 1997 | Pompeyo | H. Barrera | J. Allende F. | Stud Panguipulli | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:24.1 | ||
| 1996 | Dancing Place | L. Muñoz | J. Allende F. | Stud Santa Amelia | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:25.3 | ||
| 1995 | Husares | Luis Torres | Juan Cavieres A. | Stud Soledad | Haras Villa Rosa | 2:27.3 | ||
| 1994 | Pradilla ƒ | P. Santos | O. Gonzalez G. | Stud Trily | Stud Haras Don Alberto | 2:26.0 | ||
| 1993 | Early Gray | H. Salazar | J. Inda G. | Stud Cinzia | Haras Picoltue | 2:25.1 | ||
| 1992 | Penumbra ƒ | L. Muñoz | A. Breque V. | Stud Matancilla | Haras Matancilla | 2:28.3 | ||
| 1991 | Porta Pia ƒ | H. Salazar | A. Bagu R. | Stud Don Cotte | Haras Figuron | 2:26.0 | ||
| 1990 | Wolf | L. Muñoz | Jose Allende | Haras Santa Amelia | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:23.21 | ||
| 1989 | Chango | Vásquez | A. Bellezú | Stud Matancilla | Haras Matancilla | 2:24.4 | ||
| 1988 | Charlatán | S. Vásquez | Teófilo Jacial | Teófilo Jacial | Haras de Pirque | 2:23.4 | ||
| 1987 | Warrior | O. Escobar | Alfonso Zamorano | Stud Martino | Haras Martino | 2:25.0 | ||
| 1986 | Monroe | J. Barraza | José Melero | Stud SUR | Haras Villa Rosa | 2:23.2 | ||
| 1985 | Lamentado | G. Barrera | Alvaro Breque | Stud Cimera | Haras Dadinco | 2:26.2 | ||
| 1984 | Punch | R. Pérez | Antonio Bullezú | Stud El Bosque | Haras Pucudegua | 2:25 4/5 | ||
| 1983 | Lonquimay | S. Vásquez | Juan Cavieres A. | Stud Matancilla | Haras Matancilla | 2:24 | ||
| 1982 | Chesterton | S. Vásquez | Juan Cavieres A. | Patricio Baeza A. | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:25 2/5 | ||
| 1981 | Saint Mesme | C. Leighton | Pedro Bagú | Stud Ibiza | Haras La Capilla | 2:25 | ||
| 1980 | Premio Nobel | E. Silva | Pedro Medina | Stud Matancilla | Haras Matancilla | 2:25 1/5 | ||
| 1979 | Songe Bleu ƒ | C. Leighton | Aquiles E. Martínez | Stud Titi | 2:30 | |||
| 1978 | Person | A. Poblete | Teófilo Jacial | Stud Castilla | Haras Santa Isabel | 2:26 3/5 | ||
| 1977 | Clear Song | A. Poblete | Oscar Silva | Stud Max Val | Haras Santa Cecilia | 2:27 2/5 | ||
| 1976 | Galeno | R. Cea | Pedro Medina | Stud Sonia | Haras Matancilla | 2:29 | ||
| 1975 | Royal Champion | J. M. Aravena | Fernando Jacial | Stud Champion | Haras Santa Eladia | 2:28 1/5 | ||
| 1974 | Strong | J. M. Aravena | Antonio Bullezú | Stud Chimbarongo | Haras Santa Isabel | 2:28 3/5 | ||
| 1973 | Espadaña ƒ | C. Rivera | Victorino Romo | Stud Macul | Haras El Bosque | 2:28 2/5 | ||
| 1972 | Protectora ƒ | V. Ubilla | Delfin Bernal | Sergio Kohon | Haras Santa Isabel | 2:26 2/5 | ||
| 1971 | El Tirón | C. Pezoa | Ernesto Inda | Stud Los Conejitos | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:27 | ||
| 1970 | Naspur | C. Sepúlveda | César Covarrubias | Haras El Bosque | Haras El Bosque | 2:26 4/5 | ||
| 1969 | Vagabundo | C. Astorga | Alvaro Breque | Haras Dadinco | Haras Scelto | 2:26 1/5 | ||
| 1968 | Zenith | A. Nuñez | Luis Gajardo | Stud Zenit | Haras Santa Amelia | 2:28 1/5 | ||
| 1967 | Quilche | Héctor Pilar | Alvaro Breque | Stud Arizcún | Haras Scelto | 2:26 4/5 | ||
| 1966 | Rayita ƒ | A. Nuñez | Luis Romero | Stud Montecarlo | Haras Los Helechos | 2:26 | ||
| 1965 | Prólogo | C. Astorga | César Covarrubias | Stud Santa Isabel | Haras Santa Isabel | 2:27 4/5 | ||
| 1964 | Maporal | S. Vera | Jorge Inda | Stud Capri | 2:28 3/5 | |||
| 1963 | Par de Ases | E. Araya | Osvaldo Jara | Stud L. O. S. O. | Haras Santa Isabel | 2:28 | ||
| 1962 | Curiche | L. Espinoza | Luis Espinoza | Estanislao Anguita | Haras Curiche | 2:27 | ||
| 1961 | Miss Therese ƒ | R. Parodi | Jorge Inda | Stud Capri | 2:27 | |||
| 1960 | La Sexta ƒ | E. Araya | Juan Cavieres M. | Stud La Bastilla | Haras Curiche | 2:26 | ||
| 1959 | Maritain | P. Ulloa | Antonio Bullezú | Stud Anita | 2:30 3/5 | |||
| 1958 | Tolpán | O. Olivares | Fernando León F. | Stud Haras Victoria | Haras Victoria | 2:27 2/5 | ||
| 1957 | Babú | E. Araya | Alvaro Breque | Stud La Candelaria | Haras La Soledad | 2:28 | ||
| 1956 | Aysha ƒ | A. Salazar | Carlos Rodríguez | Stud Effie | Haras San Juan | 2:28 1/5 | ||
| 1955 | Eugenia ƒ | L. Espinoza | Valentín Ramírez | Germán Reckman | 2:28 2/5 | |||
| 1954 | Provita ƒ | A. Poblete | Juan Cavieres M. | Santiago Lyon S. | Haras La Isla | 2:28 3/5 |
ƒ indicates a filly winner
* "Mestizo"; not a pure Thoroughbred. Many early Chilean races, including El Ensayo, were open to "mestizo" horses who weren't full Thoroughbred.
ƒ indicates a filly winner
†Esperanza was declared the winner after the disqualification of Stockwell.
‡Dead-heat between Grimsby and Valeriano, with the win awarded to Grimsby.