Blue Prize winning the 2019 Breeders' Cup Distaff / BREEDERS' CUP
From Julio Canani’s pioneering success to Ignacio Correas IV’s championship with Blue Prize and José Francisco D’Angelo’s extraordinary 2025 double, Latin American trainers have helped shape the history of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
LEXINGTON, Kentucky — October 2026 — When a Thoroughbred crosses the finish line first in a Breeders’ Cup race, the spotlight naturally falls on the horse, the jockey, and the emotional celebration that follows.
But behind every champion is a team whose work began long before the starting gates opened.
At the center of that preparation is the trainer.
For Latin American horsemen, reaching the Breeders’ Cup represents an achievement that often begins thousands of miles away from the major racetracks of the United States.
Some developed their careers in South America before emigrating to North America. Others established themselves through years of work in racing’s most competitive circuits.
Their journeys have not always been easy, but several have reached the sport’s highest level.
From Peru’s Julio Canani to Argentina’s Guillermo Frenkel and Ignacio Correas IV, and more recently Venezuela’s José Francisco D’Angelo, their accomplishments demonstrate the international character of the Breeders’ Cup.
Julio Canani: The Peruvian Who Conquered American Turf Racing
Among the pioneering Latin American trainers who achieved success at the Breeders’ Cup was Julio Canani.
Born in Peru in 1938, Canani emigrated to the United States as a teenager.
His introduction to American life was far removed from the glamour of championship racing.
He initially worked in landscaping before finding employment at the racetrack, eventually becoming a hotwalker for trainer Tommy Doyle.
Through determination and practical experience, Canani gradually developed his knowledge of Thoroughbred training.
He obtained his trainer’s license in 1968 and spent his early career working with claiming horses.
His first stakes victory came in 1975.
Over the following decades, Canani became one of Southern California’s most recognizable and successful trainers.
His major achievements included victories in prestigious stakes at Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Hollywood Park.
At the Breeders’ Cup, he established an especially impressive record.
Silic: A Breakthrough in 1999
Canani’s first Breeders’ Cup victory came in the 1999 Mile at Gulfstream Park.
His representative, Silic, was a talented French-bred turf specialist who had developed into an accomplished American performer.
Under Canani’s guidance and with Corey Nakatani aboard, Silic captured the championship and delivered an important milestone for his Peruvian-born trainer.
The victory demonstrated Canani’s expertise in preparing turf horses for major international competition.
Val Royal: Another Mile Championship
Two years later, Canani returned to the Breeders’ Cup Mile with another European-bred runner.
Val Royal had overcome a lengthy interruption to his career caused by injury.
At the 2001 Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park, he delivered a powerful late performance to win the Mile under José Valdivia Jr.
Canani had now captured two editions of the championship race in three years.
Sweet Catomine: A Different Kind of Champion
In 2004, Canani demonstrated that his success was not limited to turf racing.
Sweet Catomine, a talented two-year-old filly, captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Lone Star Park.
She subsequently earned the Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old filly.
It was Canani’s third Breeders’ Cup victory.
Over his career, he trained the winners of 1,137 races and accumulated more than $49 million in purse earnings.
Canani died in 2021 at the age of 83.
His achievements remain an important part of the history of Peruvian participation in American Thoroughbred racing.
Guillermo Frenkel and Calidoscopio: Argentina Wins on the World Stage
The 2012 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita produced an achievement of enormous significance for South American racing.
Calidoscopio, a nine-year-old Argentine-bred stayer, arrived in California for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon.
Unlike many international horses who transferred to North American trainers before competing in the championships, Calidoscopio remained under the care of his Argentine training team.
Trained by Guillermo Frenkel for Stud Doña Pancha, the veteran runner had established himself as an accomplished long-distance competitor in his homeland.
His preparation reflected the experience of a horse who had spent years competing over demanding distances.
The Breeders’ Cup Marathon was contested over 1¾ miles.
Ridden by American jockey Aaron Gryder, Calidoscopio settled well behind the leaders during the early stages.
As the race developed, the Argentine runner began making steady progress.
Turning for home, he accelerated past his rivals and drew away to win by 4¼ lengths.
The victory made Calidoscopio the first South American-trained horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race.
For Frenkel, it represented an extraordinary achievement on the international stage.
For Argentina, it demonstrated that the country’s racing operations could prepare and send a horse overseas to defeat established international competition without transferring him to a North American stable.
Calidoscopio’s victory remains an important milestone in the global development of the Breeders’ Cup.
Ignacio Correas IV: Argentine Expertise Behind Blue Prize
Seven years after Calidoscopio’s historic success, another Argentine trainer celebrated a memorable Breeders’ Cup victory.
Ignacio Correas IV had developed his expertise in South America before establishing a successful career in the United States.
His stable became known for developing Thoroughbreds with patience and careful management, including horses imported from South America.
One of those runners was Blue Prize.
Bred in Argentina, the daughter of Pure Prize developed into a talented performer under Correas’ guidance.
Blue Prize had already demonstrated her ability by winning major graded stakes races, including the Juddmonte Spinster at Keeneland.
But the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita presented a significant challenge.
The field included Midnight Bisou, one of America’s leading female Thoroughbreds.
Midnight Bisou arrived as the favorite after an exceptional season.
Blue Prize, meanwhile, had previously competed in the 2018 Distaff, finishing fourth.
One year later, she returned stronger and more experienced.
Ridden by Joe Bravo, Blue Prize produced a powerful finish to defeat Midnight Bisou by 1½ lengths.
The victory represented a particularly meaningful achievement for Argentine racing.
An Argentine-bred mare had captured a Breeders’ Cup championship under the guidance of an Argentine trainer.
Correas had demonstrated his ability to develop a South American-bred Thoroughbred into an American Grade 1 champion.
His achievement also extended Argentina’s outstanding tradition of success in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Correas announced plans to retire from training in the United States at the end of 2025 and return to Argentina, concluding a distinguished American career highlighted by his Breeders’ Cup championship.
José Francisco D’Angelo: Venezuela’s Extraordinary 2025 Double
The most recent major Latin American training achievement came at the 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.
José Francisco D’Angelo, a Venezuelan-born trainer who established his American operation in Florida, arrived with two talented sprinters.
By the time the afternoon was over, he had achieved something remarkable.
He had won two consecutive Breeders’ Cup races.
And he had accomplished it in less than an hour.
Shisospicy: Speed and Precision on Turf
The first victory came in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Shisospicy, a talented filly owned by Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing, entered the championship after developing into one of the leading turf sprinters of her division.
D’Angelo had successfully transitioned the daughter of Mitole from dirt racing to turf competition, discovering that her exceptional speed could be especially effective over shorter distances on grass.
Her 2025 campaign included important victories at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, and Kentucky Downs.
At Del Mar, Shisospicy faced an international field in the five-furlong Turf Sprint.
Ridden by Puerto Rican jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., she broke sharply, established the early lead, and never surrendered her advantage.
Shisospicy captured the race by 2½ lengths.
It was D’Angelo’s first Breeders’ Cup victory.
For Venezuelan racing, it represented a historic breakthrough.
Bentornato: A Second Championship in 40 Minutes
D’Angelo had little time to celebrate.
The next championship race was the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, featuring his other major contender, Bentornato.
The Florida-bred colt had finished second in the 2024 Sprint and returned in 2025 seeking to complete unfinished business.
Representing Leon King Stable and the ownership group that included Michael and Julia Iavarone, Bentornato entered the race as the favorite.
Once again, Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard.
Bentornato demonstrated his speed immediately, taking the lead and maintaining control throughout the six-furlong contest.
He crossed the finish line 2¼ lengths ahead of Imagination.
With that victory, D’Angelo had completed a remarkable championship double.
Two horses. Two different surfaces. Two Breeders’ Cup victories approximately 40 minutes apart.
Both were ridden by a Puerto Rican jockey.
The achievement created another extraordinary example of Latin American collaboration and success in American Thoroughbred racing.
Beyond the Winners: Brazil’s Paulo Lobo
Latin American training talent has also made important contributions through championship contenders who narrowly missed victory.
Brazilian-born trainer Paulo Lobo provides one such example.
After developing his career in Brazil, Lobo established a racing operation in the United States.
One of his most accomplished early horses was Farda Amiga, a Kentucky-bred filly owned by Brazilian racing interests.
In 2002, she won the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes before finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Although she did not capture the championship, Farda Amiga was named America’s champion three-year-old filly.
Her achievements demonstrated the importance of Brazilian trainers and owners within the American Thoroughbred industry.
Lobo later continued developing international runners, reinforcing the connections between Brazilian racing and the United States.
His career illustrates why Latin American contributions to the Breeders’ Cup should be measured not only by championship victories but also by the preparation and development of elite competitors.
Different Countries, One International Legacy
The accomplishments of Canani, Frenkel, Correas, and D’Angelo represent different generations and pathways to success.
Canani built his career from the ground up after emigrating from Peru and became a three-time Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer.
Frenkel achieved a historic international victory while representing an Argentine racing operation.
Correas combined Argentine breeding and training expertise to win one of the most prestigious championships for female Thoroughbreds.
D’Angelo brought a new generation of Venezuelan training talent into the spotlight with consecutive championship victories in 2025.
Their stories demonstrate the diversity and depth of Latin American expertise within Thoroughbred racing.
They also emphasize the importance of opportunities for trainers seeking to establish themselves in the highly competitive American racing industry.
Looking Toward Keeneland 2026
As the Breeders’ Cup returns to Keeneland in 2026, Latin American trainers continue to play an important role in the sport’s international development.
Their achievements provide inspiration to young horsemen in Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, and throughout the region.
Reaching the Breeders’ Cup requires talent, preparation, experience, and the ability to compete against the finest horses and trainers from around the world.
For Latin American trainers who have reached that stage and succeeded, the victories carry special significance.
They represent years of dedication, professional sacrifice, and the pursuit of opportunities beyond their home countries.
Behind the champions and unforgettable performances are the people whose knowledge and commitment make those achievements possible.
And Latin American trainers have earned an important place among them.
Coming Next: Against All Odds: The Greatest Upsets in Breeders’ Cup History.
Agentes 305 — Covering Racing Worldwide.
Part 7 of the special editorial series “Breeders’ Cup: A Legacy of Champions.”
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