Frankie Dettori went out with flair.
The 55-year-old champion jockey, considered one of the world’s greatest riders, won on his final career mount on Sunday, guiding BET YOU CAN to victory in the Brazilian 2,000 Guineas, the Grande Premio Estado do Rio De Janeiro, at Gavea racecourse in Brazil. Dettori, who had previously announced his retirement more than a year ago, rode in the United States in 2025 and then announced following the Breeders’ Cup World Championships last fall at Del Mar that he would retire following a stint in South America.
What is post 16, outside of everyone else’s, when you have Lanfranco Dettori on your back? It’s just an obstacle to be overcome with mastery and great physical explosiveness. One of the best colts of the 2022 Generation, Bet You Can has just paved his way to attempt the Triple Crown with an extraordinary triumph in the Grande Prêmio Estado do Rio de Janeiro – Haras Santa Maria de Araras (G1).
From the Jockey Club Brasileiro: “Taking advantage of the first marker, Tá Legal took the lead. Starting from post position 16, almost in the ‘parking lot’, Bet You Can pressed the leader. Torres Garcia, Elton, Off Limits, Zucca Baby, Sushi do Iguassu, Oregon Moon, Tengo Tengo, Open The Door, Sicario da Lagoa, Quill Wild, Tomires, Awesome Amour, Humble Hero, and Orwillian followed. Bet You Can closely watched the leader, Tá Legal. Near them, Torres Garcia and Elton advanced.
“At the crucial moment of the opening of the 2026 Crown of Products, Bet You Can quickly found itself alongside Tá Legal and, clearly, with more action. Bet You Can dominated the situation, and Torres Garcia showed up with determination. Elton tried to join the fight, and Open The Door was another one approaching. Leandro Henrique worked tirelessly on Torres Garcia’s back, living up to his nickname “Spring Arm.” However, Frankie had kept reserves in his Bet You Can. Despite the attacks from the powerful rival, Bet You Can reached the finish line first, in a fabulous success. Torres Garcia finished second, with Elton, Open The Door, and Off Limits completing the scoreboard.”
Owned and bred by Haras Estrela Nova, two-time winners of this race and previously in 2021 with Uttori, Bet You Can is a son of the Into Mischief stallion CAN THE MAN, who passed away in 2023, and from the mare Bar Rouge, a daughter of 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Pounced.
Trainer Luiz Esteves is a G1 collector and wouldn’t leave a unique event without one of the day’s biggest trophies. Trainer of four of the top five finishers – Bet You Can, Torres Garcia, Elton, and Off Limits – Esteves is a rarely seen phenomenon; he works incredibly hard, and all his success is a result of this extreme dedication.
Lanfranco Dettori has over 330 G1 races in his career and has thrilled racing fans at tracks all over the world.
~ with files from Fernando Lopes – Jockey Club Brasileiro
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