A Couple of Classics Highlight Another Betting-Frenzied Saturday at La Plata

La Plata scheduled just 10 races on the week’s busiest betting day at the windows—does it make sense to keep pushing rotations if it means prize money takes a hit?

Le Massif (outside) edges out Arcanum in the Julio Corte / HLP

LA PLATA.- Saturday is the day Argentine racing generates its highest revenue; it’s the one that balances the finances and, therefore, contributes the most to the purses.

For a few years now, San Isidro and Palermo have granted La Plata the chance to hold some of these key days during each season, but since then, it has been nothing more than a waste of funds.

This afternoon, racing will take place at La Plata’s Eucaliptos course, where the card is set at just 10 races—albeit with strong class—but this will cause a huge loss in betting revenue, which obviously will not reach the owners’ pockets.

It’s worth asking whether it wouldn’t be much more logical to revert the arrangement, having La Plata run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus some Sundays, dates that yield better results and, simultaneously, bring better betting revenue to San Isidro and Palermo—meaning more funds for the meager rewards on offer.

But if there is one thing Argentine racing lacks, it is common sense, which is why these truly ridiculous issues continue to happen, helping no one, while everyone watches without lifting a finger.

In the end, the ones who lose out are always the same: those who put on the show.

With that in mind, the General Manuel Belgrano (G3-1200m dirt) and Forli (1200m dirt) classics stand out as the day’s top events, the former open to all horses 3 and older, the latter for 2-year-olds.

In the Belgrano, one of the country’s most important sprints around a bend, excitement is promised with some rematches and new names aiming to join the top ranks.

Thirty-four days ago, Le Massif (Le Ken) edged out Arcanum (Horse Greeley) by a neck in the Julio Corte (L), and they now meet again, joined by Kowalsky (Hi Happy), Payucano (Mask), the tireless Surfing Boy (Hurricane Cat), Sonreime (Orpen), and the unbeaten Equal Romano (Equal Legítimo).

In the Forli, the young sprinter rankings will begin to take shape, with Dom Rui (Storm Embrujado) seeking to climb after scoring his second convincing win over Vampiro Zen (Zensational), whom he will face again.

Valdobbio (Hit It a Bomb) impressed at Palermo and now returns to a track where his trainer is well established, while Muchacho Calavera (Mask) is another contender who could make some noise.