Under jockey Victor Salazar, Brazilian superstar Edberg Verde wins his debut in the U.S. at Los Alamitos Race Course on Sunday evening.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–APRIL 29, 2024–"Parabéns ao orgulho das corridas de Quarto de Milha no Brasil!"

The English translation to the above is "Congratulations to the pride of Quarter Horse racing in Brazil." Those were the combined sentiments of many in social media following Mauro Eli Zaborowsky's multiple stakes winner Edberg Verde's solid victory in his United States debut on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Racing from post number five, the son of 2006 All American Futurity winner No Secrets Here won the featured ninth race at the Orange County oval, taking the lead after the first 100 yards and then flying from there to win the 300-yard allowance event in a solid time of :15.597.  

Edberg Verde surely made Brazilian Quarter Horse racing proud after defeating a field that included solid runner Zackery Bono and multiple stakes finalist BF Lizzierageous.

Ridden by Victor Salazar for trainer Paul Jones, Edberg Verde is one of Brazil's most decorated Quarter Horses ever. He's also the richest Quarter Horse of all time at the famous Jockey Club de Sorocaba in Brazil having earned over one million Brazilian rials (approximately $250,000 U.S. dollars). His accolades back home include winning the GP Sao Paulo, the GP Megarace, and the GP ABQM Potro de Futuro.

"He's a really nice horse," said Jones, who is American Quarter Horse racing's all-time leading trainer in earnings. "He arrived very well from Brazil. I've had a lot of horses that have come from Brazil, and he's adapted quite a bit better than most of them have in the past.

"It's always a different experience for them. It was the first time at night, the first time under the lights. They race in lanes in Brazil, plus they have to acclimate when they get here. The time change is hard on them, and the trip is hard on them.

"This horse has acclimated well and has taken to it very well. This race was just a test to give him a race under the lights and give him an out. He performed well. He got a little nervous in the paddock because there's lots to see and it's different than in Brazil. He handled it well. He shows class. He has a lot of talent. He showed that in Brazil and that's why he's here.

"We've nominated him for the Vessels Maturity and hopefully we can run him in some big races later in the year. This is his starting point. He accomplished it well. There's a lot of pressure here but he got the job done and did what we wanted him to do."

Edberg Verde will enter this race after posting a 350-yard gate work in :18.1 on March 9 at Los Alamitos. He had also posted a couple of other works prior to that March clocking.

"In Brazil, they can use the riding crop a lot more than here," Jones added. "The first time we worked him, he kind of didn't know what to do without the help of the crop. It took him a little while to learn how to run without that. Once he's running, he really wants to run hard. First time in open company without lanes and the first time at night, he handled it well and he'll improve off this effort."

Edberg Verde earned  $6,985 for this win. The Vessels Maturity trials will be held on Sunday, June 16.

Past Brazilian stakes winners at Los Alamitos include the great Dinastia Toll BRZ, who is the dam of champion FDD Dynasty, multiple local stakes winner Aladim Bryan SA and Nordick Only VM.