Adan Damelia stole the show with a high-impact hat-trick
Apprentice jockey Adan Damelia stole the spotlight with a high-impact hat-trick, driving home Sirgo, Che Samaritana,and Curious Hit—two of them at massive odds—to push his season total to 33 wins; Sensacional Price shone once again, while double victories were also recorded by Mauricio Villarroel and the tandem of Candia Gutiérrez and Álvarez
Monday's holiday card at Hipódromo Palermo featured Nassau (Forge) as its centerpiece following his triumph in the Clásico Vicente L. Casares (G3), but in the allowance ranks, all eyes turned toward Adan Damelia. The young apprentice enjoyed an unforgettable afternoon, capturing three victories—two of them at generous odds—to confirm the continuous growth he has shown in recent times.
The harvest began early, in the second race, when he piloted Sirgo (Orpen) to victory in one of the meeting's biggest upsets, returning a payout of $55.25. Far from satisfied, Damelia returned to the winner's circle in the tenth race, this time aboard Che Samaritana (Vástago Salvaje), and saved one last celebration for the card's finale.
There, he teamed up with Curious Hit (Hit It a Bomb) to complete his hat-trick and once again reward those who backed him, paying $8.45. It was a flawless combination of efficiency and value that crowned the apprentice as the meeting's standout rider.
With those three victories, Damelia raised his 2026 win tally to 33 and brought his career total to 71 since he began riding officially. His career spans several years, including a period of activity in Rosario, though it was only in 2025 that he secured his official license to ride at the major tracks. Since then, his progress has been steady, and performances like Monday's mark another important milestone in his establishment.
The afternoon's other headline performance arrived right in the opener, when Sensacional Prize (Winning Prize) demonstrated his ability once again. The Tucumán representative drew off to a six-length victory over a mile, leaving no room for debate while earning his fourth win. It was a commanding display that placed him among the afternoon's key figures and confirmed his strong current form.
There was also room for other professionals to double their wins. Elvio Candia Gutiérrez alongside trainers María Fernanda Álvarez and Walter Suárez captured back-to-back races. They first celebrated with Arequera Queen(Seahenge) in the fifth and followed up immediately with Flashback (Grand Reward) in the sixth, completing a quick double.
Meanwhile, apprentice Mauricio Villarroel scored two victories of his own. His first win came with Pequeño Belt(Treasure Beach) in the third race, before sealing his double with Queen Manor Gal (Galerien) in the eighth—another sign that young jockeys continue to claim an increasingly prominent role in the Buenos Aires racing scene.
Thus, between the dominance of Sensacional Prize, the doubles from Villarroel and the Candia Gutiérrez-Álvarezteam, and Damelia's hat-trick, Monday's allowance card provided plenty of highlights. Yet, by volume of wins and the shock of his payouts, the day belonged indisputably to the apprentice, who continues to pile up experience and victories at a pivotal stage in his career.
