The daughter of Forge took the lead early, fought hard, and managed to pull away in the stretch to claim the Handicap Juan Carlos Noriega, carrying the top weight of 58 1/2 kilos
Beyond her inconsistency, no one can deny that Herd Immunity is a high-quality runner. Following a disappointing effort a few weeks ago in the Clásico Bullrich (G2) against the division’s top stayers, the daughter of Forge found a path to redemption this Monday.
Blending speed, courage, and stamina, she captured the Handicap Juan Carlos Noriega (1800m) on the turf—a well-deserved tribute held at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo in honor of the beloved “Chupino.”
Carrying the 58 1/2-kilo highweight and conceding between 4 1/2 and 10 1/2 kilos to her rivals, the bay filly made tenacity her banner. She resisted early pressure from Timberlay (Portal del Alto, 54 1/2) and later, in the stretch, withstood a challenge from Expert Advice (Il Campione, 54), who momentarily appeared to have her measured.
However, through Herd Immunity’s sheer heart and a precise ride from jockey Francisco Lavigna, she dug in and eventually drew off comfortably in the final 100 meters. Timberlay stayed on for second, 2 lengths back, while Farra Girl (Greenspring, 53 1/2) completed the podium. The final time was 1:37.30 following fractions of :24.68, :47.66, and 1:11.74.
Bred by Triple Alliance SA and owned by Stud Volver Al Futuro, Herd Immunity notched her sixth win in 14 starts. While her health has been somewhat fragile, she continues to prove that she possesses immense racing power as she works toward securing a graded stakes victory.
