by @turfeeunapolis
Closing the 2025 season at the Jockey Club de Sorocaba, the GP Campeão dos Campeões (Champion of Champions) brought together a field of 20 horses aged three and up. The contenders were split into five trials, with only the respective winners advancing to the final, held on Sunday, December 20, over 400 yards, offering a total purse of R$ 270,000 (approximately US$ 48,280).
Lasvegas Cowgirl MRL had already posted the fastest time in the trials, winning her elimination heat in 19.508 seconds. In doing so, she defeated strong rivals such as Apollitical Jr, a finalist in several of the season’s major events, and Miss Apolitical Jess, a filly coming off three consecutive stakes victories and favored in the betting.
In the final, Lasvegas Cowgirl MRL once again showed remarkable consistency. She did not take the early lead — that honor belonged to La Reyna — but soon the filly known as the “Black Diamond,” owned by Roberto Sylvio Abdalla, took control of the race and powered her way to the fifth victory of her career, stopping the clock in 19.515 seconds. The performance firmly established her as one of the most accomplished fillies of the new Brazilian Quarter Horse generation.
“Today it was proven that investing pays off. When you invest in a winning ticket, the chances of success are much greater. Today, Brazil and the world can see that,” said owner Roberto Sylvio Abdalla, who purchased Lasvegas Cowgirl MRL last year at the Haras Portofino Sale for R$ 1,200,000 (approximately US$ 210,000).
The striking black-coated filly is by White Zoom (by Shazoom), one of the most accomplished producing mares in Brazilian Quarter Horse racing. White Zoom became a three-time Champion of Champions producer, having previously foaled Teller Turim MRL (by Teller Cartel), winner of the race in 2021 and 2022.
Bred by the renowned Haras Portofino, owned by Marcos Ribeiro Leite, who also maintains strong ties to North American racing, Lasvegas Cowgirl MRL crowns the success of the first Brazilian crop of sire Flying Cowboy 123, validating the significant investment made in this bloodline in the country.
Jockey Ari Andrade, who returned successfully to racing at Sorocaba after a period away from competition, highlighted that Lasvegas Cowgirl MRL possesses “exceptional finishes,” which proved decisive both in the trial and in the final.
Trainer I. Nascimento, widely known as “Guaxinim,” stated: “She showed me that she would really come into her own from the middle of the season onward. She overcame some issues and continued to improve. I told Beto (the owner) that she would be one of the best fillies of the year if we could get everything right. She arrived in great shape, at the ideal weight, for this Champion of Champions.”
Foaled in São Paulo, Lasvegas Cowgirl MRL is three years old and weighs 1,153 pounds. She now owns five victories, having finished on the board in all seven career starts, with earnings of R$ 184,050 (approximately US$ 32,810).
Owner Roberto Sylvio Abdalla celebrated his third Champion of Champions title, following previous victories in 2003, at Hipódromo da Cidade Jardim with First Down Jet WA, and in 2015, at Sorocaba with Kiss Me For Me SA.
This year’s runner-up was the colt Granite Soul, followed by Polo Fantastic in third and La Reyna in fourth. Fellow finalist Cadillac Ease HW was scratched by his veterinary medical team.
The Sorocaba Racecourse another season by consolidating a strong administration under outgoing president Jonatas Dantas, who hands over leadership to Adenir Jonatan Weisheimer, now tasked with continuing the growth of Quarter Horse racing in Brazil.
