Although the racing at Argentina’s La Plata racetrack is generally considered slightly softer than that at Palermo or San Isidro, La Plata does host some major events during the year, among them the Gran Premio Selección de Potrancas. If not quite on the same level as Palermo’s Gran Premio Selecction (Argentine Oaks, ARG-G1), La Plata’s top event for 3-year-old fillies is still an important prize and has been won by some first-rate fillies, among them Argentine champions Una Arrabalera and Kalath Wells. This year’s edition went to Calida Sonrisa, who took revenge for her lone defeat in La Plata’s Polla de Potrancas (ARG-G2) by leaving that race’s winner, Elenika, back in seventh place.
Calida Sonrisa is a daughter of Cosmic Trigger, a talented but unsound son of 2007 Railway Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Lizard Island and a male-line descendant of the great international sire Danehill. Undefeated in his only two starts and a half brother to Argentine champion and leading American sire Candy Ride, Cosmic Trigger was given a chance at stud at his birthplace, Haras Abolengo. He is currently fourth on Argentina’s general sire list after finishing third last year and fifth in 2023, and Calida Sonrisa is his 13th Group 1 winner.
On the dam’s side, Calida Sonrisa descends from the important broodmare Sea Saga, who already holds a treasured place in Argentine pedigrees as the maternal granddam of 11-time Argentine champion sire Southern Halo. The winner of the 1971 Ladies Handicap (which became a Grade 1 race when the North American graded race system was instituted in 1973), Sea Saga had a fair measure of the talent of her brilliant sire, the great Sea-Bird.
Sea Saga produced only four foals, but two were stakes winners. One, 1977 Test Stakes (USA-G3) winner Northern Sea (by Northern Dancer), became the dam of the aforementioned Southern Halo to a cover by Halo and also produced Excellent Lady (by Smarten), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner General Challenge (by General Meeting) and 2000 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Notable Career (by Avenue of Flags), and Northern Pageant (by Spectacular Bid), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Snow Dance (by Forestry). The other, Key to the Saga (by Key to the Mint), won the 1978 Pucker Up Stakes (USA-G3) and became the second dam of 1983 Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1) winner Sir Beaufort and 2012 Premio Cyllene (ARG-G2) winner The New Yorker.
Dancer’s Saga, a full sister to Northern Sea, won only once from 13 tries but made up for her failings on the track in the paddocks. She produced stakes winners Exclusive Story (by Exclusive Native), Colonial Saga (by Pleasant Colony), and Pleasant Tango (by Pleasant Colony) and is also the dam of Epic Villa (by Pancho Villa), dam in turn of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Knock (by Luhuk).
Given the previous successes experienced in Argentina by this family, it is not really surprising that Key Cure (by Cure the Blues), a granddaughter of Dancer’s Saga through her Key to the Mint daughter Dancer’s Key, should also have made her way to the paddocks of Argentina. She produced 10 Argentine-bred foals, headed by multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Blues for Sale (by Not for Sale) and listed stakes winner Cure for Sale (by Not for Sale). If the name of Blues for Sale sounds familiar, it should; she is the dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Blue Prize (by Pure Prize), whose victories include the 2019 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1), and of Blue Stripe (by Equal Stripes), another multiple Grade/Group 1 winner who fell only a nose short of duplicating her sister’s triumph in the 2022 Distaff. Blues for Sale is also the dam of 2025 Premio Coronel Miguel F, Martinez (ARG-G3) winner Blue Caviar (by Equal Stripes).
Calida Sonrisa is out of Key Cure’s last foal, Chica Canalla (by Not for Sale), who won two of her 13 starts, both over 1400 meters at San Isidro. Also the dam of the winner Flor de Atamisque (by Cosmic Trigger), the mare has since produced the unraced Mootasadir filly Pelusa Cosmica, a foal of 2023, and a yearling son of Equal Stripes who has been named Triste Adios. She was barren to Cosmic Trigger for 2025.
Calida Sonrisa was making only her third lifetime start in the Selección de Potrancas, so it appears that she has a bright future ahead of her if she proves sounder than her sire. If she does, she may add another worthy chapter to the illustrious saga of her female family.
Calida Sonrisa is a daughter of Cosmic Trigger, a talented but unsound son of 2007 Railway Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Lizard Island and a male-line descendant of the great international sire Danehill. Undefeated in his only two starts and a half brother to Argentine champion and leading American sire Candy Ride, Cosmic Trigger was given a chance at stud at his birthplace, Haras Abolengo. He is currently fourth on Argentina’s general sire list after finishing third last year and fifth in 2023, and Calida Sonrisa is his 13th Group 1 winner.
On the dam’s side, Calida Sonrisa descends from the important broodmare Sea Saga, who already holds a treasured place in Argentine pedigrees as the maternal granddam of 11-time Argentine champion sire Southern Halo. The winner of the 1971 Ladies Handicap (which became a Grade 1 race when the North American graded race system was instituted in 1973), Sea Saga had a fair measure of the talent of her brilliant sire, the great Sea-Bird.
Sea Saga produced only four foals, but two were stakes winners. One, 1977 Test Stakes (USA-G3) winner Northern Sea (by Northern Dancer), became the dam of the aforementioned Southern Halo to a cover by Halo and also produced Excellent Lady (by Smarten), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner General Challenge (by General Meeting) and 2000 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Notable Career (by Avenue of Flags), and Northern Pageant (by Spectacular Bid), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Snow Dance (by Forestry). The other, Key to the Saga (by Key to the Mint), won the 1978 Pucker Up Stakes (USA-G3) and became the second dam of 1983 Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1) winner Sir Beaufort and 2012 Premio Cyllene (ARG-G2) winner The New Yorker.
Dancer’s Saga, a full sister to Northern Sea, won only once from 13 tries but made up for her failings on the track in the paddocks. She produced stakes winners Exclusive Story (by Exclusive Native), Colonial Saga (by Pleasant Colony), and Pleasant Tango (by Pleasant Colony) and is also the dam of Epic Villa (by Pancho Villa), dam in turn of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Knock (by Luhuk).
Given the previous successes experienced in Argentina by this family, it is not really surprising that Key Cure (by Cure the Blues), a granddaughter of Dancer’s Saga through her Key to the Mint daughter Dancer’s Key, should also have made her way to the paddocks of Argentina. She produced 10 Argentine-bred foals, headed by multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Blues for Sale (by Not for Sale) and listed stakes winner Cure for Sale (by Not for Sale). If the name of Blues for Sale sounds familiar, it should; she is the dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Blue Prize (by Pure Prize), whose victories include the 2019 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1), and of Blue Stripe (by Equal Stripes), another multiple Grade/Group 1 winner who fell only a nose short of duplicating her sister’s triumph in the 2022 Distaff. Blues for Sale is also the dam of 2025 Premio Coronel Miguel F, Martinez (ARG-G3) winner Blue Caviar (by Equal Stripes).
Calida Sonrisa is out of Key Cure’s last foal, Chica Canalla (by Not for Sale), who won two of her 13 starts, both over 1400 meters at San Isidro. Also the dam of the winner Flor de Atamisque (by Cosmic Trigger), the mare has since produced the unraced Mootasadir filly Pelusa Cosmica, a foal of 2023, and a yearling son of Equal Stripes who has been named Triste Adios. She was barren to Cosmic Trigger for 2025.
Calida Sonrisa was making only her third lifetime start in the Selección de Potrancas, so it appears that she has a bright future ahead of her if she proves sounder than her sire. If she does, she may add another worthy chapter to the illustrious saga of her female family.
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