All Set for a Formidable Friday at San Isidro Racecourse

El Ensayo (G3) to Serve as Jockey Club Prep; Vundu, Honest Boy and Qué Tarde Gris Clash in the Engrillado; Marina Lezcano Offers Fillies a Trial Toward the Alvear

Honest Boy Comes Off Victory in the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

San Isidro Racecourse is ready for a can't-miss Friday meeting, highlighted by a trio of feature races: the El Ensayo (G3-1800 m, turf), the Engrillado (2000 m, turf), and the Marina Lezcano (1600 m, turf), each serving as a steppingstone toward bigger targets.

Serving as the final prep for the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1), the second leg of Argentina’s Triple Crown, El Ensayodrew just a couple of scratches, leaving nine 3-year-olds in the gate, including Ardiendo (Remote), winner of the Gran Criterium (G1) and runner-up in the 2000 Guineas (G1).

Forging (Forge), Friends are Friends (Cityscape), Have Fun (Fortify), Jazzy Frank (Gidu), Magistral Boy (Daniel Boone), Neat Colt (Treasure Beach), Piñazo (John F Kennedy), and Real Rim (Remote) will all line up against the defending San Isidoro runner.

The Engrillado, open to horses four years and older, plays a key role on the road to the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) in October at Gávea, Brazil, as it is used as a reference race by the Jockey Club Argentino for nominations.

Fortunately, the top contenders were confirmed, promising a spectacular showdown led by Vundu (Suggestive Boy), recent winner of the Clásico Potrillón; Honest Boy (Heliostatic), victorious in the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1); and Qué Tarde Gris (Il Campione), who captured the Clásico 9 de Julio (G2).

Other major players include Beatles (Sixties Song), Capitán Kid (Daniel Boone), Don Tigre (Cityscape), El Pulque (Heliostatic), El Triplo (Mask), Gadzooks (Galán de Cine), One Thing (Brz-Verrazano), Puro de Cuba (Long Island Sound), and Touch the Stars (Fortify), all set to battle for top honors.

Finally, for 3-year-old fillies on the path toward the Clásico Federico de Alvear (G2), the Marina Lezcano will run with no changes to its original lineup. The entrants will be: Catys Queen (Lizard Island), Great Fight (Equal Stripes), Invocación (Treasure Beach), Mi Gran Chica (Seahenge), Pale Ale (Brz-Outstrip), and Sanky (Seize).

The week at San Isidro will conclude on Wednesday, September 3, with the highlight being the Handicap Wally (1300 m, dirt) for fillies and mares four years and older. The seven-horse field will feature Kelly Rose (Il Campione) carrying top weight of 61½ kg.