Neolithic colt romps in first leg of Venezuela’s Triple Crown

Pontevecchio established himself as the leading 3-year-old in Venezuela with a commanding score Sunday in the country’s first 2026 Triple Crown event, the Gr. I Clasico Jose Antonio Paez at La Rinconada in Caracas.

The Neolithic colt bred by Haras La Orlyana, who had previously won the Gr. III Clasico Juan Vicente Tovar in April, drew the No. 4 post with Hemirxon Medina in the saddle for the race at 1,600 meters. They broke in mid-pack, coasted in sixth place down the backstretch, made a strong run on the turn to take the lead in the stretch, then cruised to the wire while widening with every step, and winning by nearly 10 lengths in 1:38.27.

Pontevecchio is now pointing for the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Cria Nacional; he’s won three of 11 starts.