Butterfing is maturing and becoming the new leader in Argentina after winning the Gran Premio de Honor

Butterfing, the gray colt from Stud El Papi, wrote a new chapter in his short career by winning the Gran Premio de Honor (G1) held last Saturday, April 4, at Hipódromo de Palermo. With only four starts in his campaign and conditioned by late physical maturity, the son of Angiolo and Candy Milk lived up to expectations by defeating an experienced field over 2000 meters on a heavy dirt track. The horse trained by Juan Franco Saldivia now leads among stayers at Palermo, with his sights set on the Gran Premio República Argentina next May 1. Butterfing’s trajectory is a study in patience and responsible management, and his genealogy connects to some of the most influential maternal families in international Thoroughbred racing.

Kevin Banegas celebrates aboard Butterfing (Angiolo) his consolidation in the Gran Premio de Honor.

The Gran Premio de Honor was run with nine participants and a clear favoritism toward Butterfing. The gray broke from post 7 and was placed in third by jockey Kevin Banegas while Buen Escocés (Bodemeister) set the pace followed by Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja). The dirt track was wet after morning rain, requiring every move to be measured. Approaching the final 800 meters, Banegas began to edge closer calmly to the leaders and, 300 meters from the finish, asked his mount in the center of the track. Butterfing took command with ease and, although Need You Tonight attacked along the rail, he held a half-length advantage to win in 2:02.79. Third place went to El Emporio two and a half lengths back, while Buen Escocés and Endler completed the board. The race confirmed the impression from his previous outing, where he had won by eight lengths in an allowance over the same distance.

This victory established Butterfing as one of the most promising three-year-olds in Argentina. He debuted late on May 24, 2025, in the Especial Julio Félix Penna, a race for debuting colts over 1600 meters at Palermo. That day, Saldivia’s trainee raced just off the early pace and in the stretch advanced easily to defeat Friends Are Friends by five lengths in 1:35.15. The performance was so convincing that his trainer decided to give him a long 168-day break to allow him to mature; the professional revealed that Butterfing “felt the races a lot” due to his physical immaturity and preferred to space his runs. That pause ended in November 2025, when the gray returned in the Gran Premio Nacional (G1), the most important 2500-meter race for three-year-old colts. There, he ran from behind and finished third, three lengths behind the winner Gordianus, alongside Winston. The effort, though below expectations, showed that Butterfing needed shorter distances and further development.

After the Nacional, Saldivia’s team mapped out a measured path. Butterfing was rested another two months to allow his body to absorb the effort. He returned in February 2026 in a conditions race over 2000 meters, the same distance as the Gran Premio de Honor. With a patient Banegas, he controlled the pace and pulled away to win by eight lengths. That victory made him the favorite for the Honor and removed doubts about his ability to repeat at the distance and surface. On G1 day, Banegas followed a similar script: he waited for the stretch and released the horse at the right moment. Timing management was key, as the heavy track punished the front-runners. The margin was not overwhelming, but the performance was solid: the gray showed mental maturity and responsiveness, leaving the impression that he still has room to improve.

Post-race statements reinforced the idea that Butterfing is only just entering his prime. His trainer, Juan Franco Saldivia, told the media that the horse “is very talented and still in development.” He explained that as a young horse he showed a lot of sensitivity after each race and required several months to recover. “We didn’t want to rush him; we preferred to respect his timing and today he rewards us,” he said. Jockey Kevin Banegas highlighted the horse’s intelligence: “when I ask him, he responds instantly; he feels everything and, although he is still learning, he has an incredible turn of foot.” The owners confirmed that his next target will be the Gran Premio República Argentina, the most important race for stayers on the Buenos Aires calendar.

Beyond careful management, Butterfing’s success is supported by an interesting genetic combination. His sire Angiolo, an Argentine horse by Grand Reward (Storm Cat), was a notable sprinter: he won the Gran Premio Santiago Luro (G1), the Clásico Guillermo Kemmis (G2), and finished second in the Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint (G1). As a stallion, he has stood out for transmitting speed and competitive temperament. Angiolo is responsible for fast colts such as Arellano, Ansia Clara, Mery Laurent and others who have succeeded at the group level. The presence of Storm Cat in his sire line contributes explosiveness, while the background of Sir Ivor and Fappiano reinforces stamina.

The dam Candy Milk adds a different dimension. This gray mare is a daughter of the international champion Candy Ride, unbeaten in Argentina and winner of the Pacific Classic (G1) in the United States. She was purchased as a weanling at the Keeneland November Sales in 2008 by Rodolfo Lamperti and sent to Argentina as a yearling, where she did not race due to injury. Candy Milk began her broodmare career at Haras San Lorenzo de Areco and in 2015 produced Cima de Areco, a gray filly by Cima de Triomphe who remained undefeated in four starts, including the Gran Premio Enrique Acebal (G1) and the Federico de Alvear (G2). That filly was later sold to Japanese breeders and exported to the United States to train with Graham Motion. The following year, Candy Milk was bred to Angiolo and Butterfing was born, demonstrating that the mare produces both with European bloodlines (Cima de Triomphe) and with domestic stallions.

A deeper look at the female line shows that Butterfing descends from the influential family branch of Imanative. This daughter of Native Dancer — a horse that revolutionized breeding in North America — won only one race but produced five stakes winners, including Fairway Phantom. Her main legacy came through her daughters. Inreality Star, by In Reality, produced the champion juvenile Meadow Star, multiple G1 winner including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Mother Goose. Meadow Star later became the maternal granddam of Arrogate, hero of the Travers Stakes by 13½ lengths and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Pegasus World Cup, and Dubai World Cup, whose progeny include Secret Oath (Kentucky Oaks winner), Arcangelo (Belmont Stakes and Travers), and Seize The Grey, winner of the Preakness. Another daughter of Imanative, Fairway Star, produced the stallion Wall Street Dancer and opened the branch leading to Tonalist’s Shape, winner of the Davona Dale Stakes and Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park. The line has also produced the gray mare Belle Gallantey, winner of the Delaware Handicap and the Beldame Stakes.

The fact that Butterfing shares ancestry with Arrogate and Meadow Star, both large gray horses, suggests that Imanative’s physical inheritance continues to express itself. Grays from this family tend to show robust bodies, strong toplines, and great lung capacity; characteristics observed in Butterfing since his early days. Moreover, the combination of speed lines (Angiolo/Storm Cat) and stamina (Candy Ride, Native Dancer) gives him a balance highly valued in breeding. This duality is reflected in his ability to produce sustained speed in the decisive stages of longer races.

Butterfing’s victory came at a time of renewal for Argentine racing, where other notable three-year-olds have emerged. Gordianus, his conqueror in the Nacional, later suffered a minor physical issue and did not run in the Honor; El Emporio had just won the Clásico Otoño (G2), while Need You Tonight was returning after finishing second in the Gran Premio San Martín (G1). The quality of the field enhances the value of the son of Angiolo’s win. Weather also played a role: the track was heavy and favored those who managed their energy. Butterfing raced in fourth position for most of the trip, avoiding early exertion and unleashing his run in the final meters.

The Gran Premio República Argentina (G1), scheduled for May 1, will be his next objective. This 2500-meter race is the premier test for stayers at Palermo and brings together the best older horses and three-year-olds. Competing there will mean facing experienced stayers again and increasing the distance challenge, as Butterfing has only won over 2000 meters. However, his pedigree and running style indicate he should handle the stretch to 2500 meters without issue. Saldivia must decide whether to give him another prep to maintain fitness or arrive directly after a month of training. In any case, fans eagerly await the performance of the gray colt, who aims to match the feat of his maternal half-sister Cima de Areco, a national heroine.

A comparative analysis helps measure Butterfing’s achievement. Meadow Star, granddaughter of Imanative, was champion juvenile in the United States and earned more than $1.4 million. Belle Gallantey, a great-granddaughter, rose from a $35,000 claim to become a dual G1 winner. Tonalist’s Shape, another descendant, won the Hollywood Wildcat Stakes by 3¾ lengths. Arrogate, perhaps the most famous of the line, earned $17.4 million and became a global star before beginning a stud career that has already produced champions. While Butterfing is still far from those figures, his projection is significant within the Argentine context. In South America, prize money ceilings are lower and international opportunities are fewer, but the genetics remain the same.

Butterfing’s progression shows how talent requires time and planning to develop. From his winning debut in the Especial Julio Félix Penna to his coronation in the Gran Premio de Honor, less than eleven months have passed, with only four starts. Saldivia and the Stud El Papi team have managed him carefully, respecting his growth. Each return to the track has resulted in improved performance. The strategy has been rewarded with a G1 and the promise of an even brighter future.

From a genetic standpoint, Butterfing is the result of a cross designed to combine speed and stamina. Angiolo provides the initial spark and Storm Cat genetics, while Candy Milk transmits the class of Candy Ride and the depth of Imanative. His gray color and robust physique recall Arrogate and other descendants of his female line, suggesting further development ahead. Examples such as Meadow Star, Belle Gallantey, Tonalist’s Shape, and Arrogate show that family {16-g} can produce champions capable of excelling on different stages.

The challenge for Butterfing will be to sustain his level over longer distances and against more experienced horses. On May 1, in the Gran Premio República Argentina, he will face established stayers and must prove that the quality of his female line and the patience of his team translate into competitive superiority. If he succeeds, he will confirm himself as the new standard-bearer of Argentine racing and add his name to the list of great gray descendants of Imanative.