A nearly unbeatable champion in the years following the second World War, Yatasto swept the Argentine Quadruple Crown and was ranked as the best of his generation at 2, 3, and 4. In fact, many considered him the best Argentine racehorse since Botafogo, who swept the Quadruple Crown in 1917, if not the best Argentine racer of all time. Unfortunately for breeders, Yatasto was much less successful as a sire than he had been as a racehorse.
Race record
24 starts, 22 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
Honors
As an individual
According to David R. Gunn of the Bloodstock Breeders' Review, Yatasto was a neatly-made, medium-sized individual with a smooth low stride and a look of great quality. He became more temperamental as he grew older (perhaps due to pain, as he had problems with intermittent leg soreness during his 1952 and 1953 campaigns). Bloodstock expert Leon Rasmussen described Yatasto as "an eye-filling stallion, a horse of excellent conformation and full of quality...a bundle of intense energy, never quiet for a moment."
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Yatasto sired 93 winners (54.4%) and 12 stakes winners (7.0%) from 171 named foals. Records for his South American progeny may be incomplete. His best runner was probably Yata Nahuel, who was the equivalent of a modern multiple Group stakes winner in Argentina.
Notable progeny of daughters
Socopo (VEN)
Connections
Yatasto was bred by Haras Las Ortigas. He raced for Caballeriza Atenas. He was trained by Juan de la Cruz in 1951 and 1952 and by Nicholás Ojeda in 1953. His regular jockey was Juan Carlos Contreras. Yatasto entered stud at Haras Dreanina but after five seasons was imported to the USA in 1957 by a syndicate of California breeders at a price reported at US$250,000. He stood at Thomas Thoroughbred Farm in California in 1958. His last foals were registered in 1970.
Pedigree notes
Sired by two-time Argentine champion sire Selim Hassan (by Hyperion), Yatasto is inbred 5x5 to unbeaten 1884 Ascot Gold Cup winner St. Simon, a nine-time champion sire in England/Ireland. He is a full brother to Yvonne, second dam of Panamanian Group 2 winner Yacou. He is also a full brother to Yungla, second dam of multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Idolo Beto and third dam of 1986 Premio Jockey Club de Peru (PER-G1) winner Sergis Khan and 1967 Premio Selección de Potrancas (PER-G1) winner Lady Khan.
Yucca, the dam of Yatasto, was produced from the Spearmint mare Motherwort. She in turn was out of Queen Mother, by 1900 English Triple Crown winner and four-time Argentine champion sire Diamond Jubilee. The next dam in Yatasto’s tail-female line, Barbee, is by Kendal, a champion sire in England, Ireland, and Argentina.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 19, 2025
Race record
24 starts, 22 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third
1950:
- Won Premio Guillermo Kemmis (ARG, 1000mD, Palermo)
- Won Premio Santiago Luro (ARG, 1200mD, Palermo)
- Won Premio Orange (ARG, 1400mT, San Isidro)
- Won Premio Old Man (ARG, 1200mD, Palermo)
- Won Premio Raul y Raul E. Chevalier (ARG, 1400mDT, San Isidro)
- Won Premio. Montevideo (ARG, 1500mD, Palermo)
1951:
- Won Premio Miguel Cané (ARG, 1600mD, Palermo)
- Won Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) (ARG, 1600mD, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio Jockey Club (ARG, 2000mT, San Isidro)
- Won Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby) (ARG, 2500mD, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (ARG, 3000mT, San Isidro)
1952:
- Won Premio Chacabuco (ARG, 3000mD, Palermo)
- Won Premio General Pueyrredon (ARG, 4000mT, San Isidro)
- Won Gran Premio de Honor (ARG, 3500mD, Palermo)
- 3rd Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (ARG, 3000mT, San Isidro)
1953:
- Won Premio General Belgrano (ARG, 2500mD, Palermo)
- Won Premio Chacabuco (ARG, 3000mD, Palermo)
- Won Premio Otoño (ARG, 2000mD, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio de Honor (ARG, 3500mD, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio Municipal (URU, 3000mD, Maroñas)
- Won Premio Vincente L. Casares (ARG, 2500mD, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio San Isidro (ARG, 3000mT, San Isidro)
- Won Premio Palermo (ARG, 1600mD, Palermo)
Honors
- Argentine Horse of the Year (1951/52, 1952/53)
- Argentine champion 2yo male (1950/51)
- Argentine champion 3yo male (1951/52)
- Argentine champion older male (1952/53, 1953/54)
As an individual
According to David R. Gunn of the Bloodstock Breeders' Review, Yatasto was a neatly-made, medium-sized individual with a smooth low stride and a look of great quality. He became more temperamental as he grew older (perhaps due to pain, as he had problems with intermittent leg soreness during his 1952 and 1953 campaigns). Bloodstock expert Leon Rasmussen described Yatasto as "an eye-filling stallion, a horse of excellent conformation and full of quality...a bundle of intense energy, never quiet for a moment."
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Yatasto sired 93 winners (54.4%) and 12 stakes winners (7.0%) from 171 named foals. Records for his South American progeny may be incomplete. His best runner was probably Yata Nahuel, who was the equivalent of a modern multiple Group stakes winner in Argentina.
Notable progeny of daughters
Socopo (VEN)
Connections
Yatasto was bred by Haras Las Ortigas. He raced for Caballeriza Atenas. He was trained by Juan de la Cruz in 1951 and 1952 and by Nicholás Ojeda in 1953. His regular jockey was Juan Carlos Contreras. Yatasto entered stud at Haras Dreanina but after five seasons was imported to the USA in 1957 by a syndicate of California breeders at a price reported at US$250,000. He stood at Thomas Thoroughbred Farm in California in 1958. His last foals were registered in 1970.
Pedigree notes
Sired by two-time Argentine champion sire Selim Hassan (by Hyperion), Yatasto is inbred 5x5 to unbeaten 1884 Ascot Gold Cup winner St. Simon, a nine-time champion sire in England/Ireland. He is a full brother to Yvonne, second dam of Panamanian Group 2 winner Yacou. He is also a full brother to Yungla, second dam of multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Idolo Beto and third dam of 1986 Premio Jockey Club de Peru (PER-G1) winner Sergis Khan and 1967 Premio Selección de Potrancas (PER-G1) winner Lady Khan.
Yucca, the dam of Yatasto, was produced from the Spearmint mare Motherwort. She in turn was out of Queen Mother, by 1900 English Triple Crown winner and four-time Argentine champion sire Diamond Jubilee. The next dam in Yatasto’s tail-female line, Barbee, is by Kendal, a champion sire in England, Ireland, and Argentina.
Fun facts
- Yatasto’s name commemorates the handing over of the command of the Army of the North from Manuel Belgrano to José de San Martín during the Argentine War of Independence (1810-1818). The change of command took place in January 1814 and is generally believed to have taken place at the Yatasto horse relay station in what is now Argentina’s Salta Province. The site is now an Argentine historic monument.
- Yatasto is the namesake for a Group 3 stakes race at San Isidro.
Last updated: September 19, 2025