All Set for a New Edition of the Carreras de las Estrellas

The great series created by the Fundación Equina Argentina will celebrate its 35th edition this Saturday at Palermo, featuring 9 races, over 466 million pesos in purses, and a guaranteed menu of top-class action

Durazzo won the last running of the Estrellas Classic held at Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

Everything is set for the 35th running of the Carreras de las Estrellas, the series created and organized by the Fundación Equina Argentina, which will once again bring its traditional dose of quality this Saturday at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo.

With final entries and the post-position draw completed, the fields are now confirmed for the 9-race card, which will offer an impressive total purse of 466.4 million pesos (with additional supplements paid by late entries to be added). Of the original 112 nominations, 87 horses will ultimately face the starter in pursuit of glory.

The centerpiece will be the G1 Gran Premio Estrellas Classic, contested over 2000 meters on the dirt, carrying a purse of 80 million pesos, 50 million of which will go to the winner. Open to 3-year-olds and up, the race will attract much of the attention on the day.

Of the 14 initial nominees, 10 were confirmed, headed by Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja), the recent winner of the G1 Gran Premio República Argentina. His connections paid a 15-million-peso late entry supplement—now added to the purse—after he had not been originally nominated to the series.

Also set is Acento Final (Treasure Beach), hero of the 2024 G1 Gran Premio Jockey Club, who will be making his first appearance on the Palermo dirt.

Three top fillies—Martana (Fortify), Knows All (Le Blues) and Alma Vasca (Alma de Acero)—were withdrawn from the Classic and will instead contest the G1 Estrellas Distaff (2000m, dirt, 64 million pesos purse). The only other defection from the Classic was Señor Importante (Fortify).

Among the remaining entrants for the Classic are Holy Holy Rim (Remote), coming off a win in the Clásico Malvinas Argentinas (L); stakes winners Endor Rye (Endorsement) and One Thing (Brz-Drosselmeyer); and also Cornwall (Remote), Grand Canyon (Long Island Sound), Kopke (Hi Happy)—redirected from the Mile—Oleguer (Equal Stripes) and Song Kas (Sixties Song).

The Distaff saw no additional withdrawals and will be contested by 13 fillies and mares, though it will not include Sarawak Rim (Remote), winner of the G1 Gran Premio Criadores.

The aforementioned Martana, Knows All, and Alma Vasca will headline the field, taking on tough company like Coni Fizz (Marconi) and Obra Clásica (Suggestive Boy)—both stretching out to 2000 meters for the first time—as well as graded performers Poker Mommy (Daddy Long Legs), Neowise (Brz-Agnes Gold), Noche Alta (Hi Happy), the consistent Presencial (Suggestive Boy), and rising fillies such as Herd Immunity (Forge), Bella Marieta (Cosmic Trigger), International Look (Cosmic Trigger) and Titmus (Cima de Triomphe).

Post times and the order of the Estrellas races will be finalized on Tuesday afternoon, once work is completed on the rest of Saturday's card, which drew 360 nominations for the non-stakes events—likely prompting some reshuffling.

First launched in the late 1980s, the Carreras de las Estrellas marked a major turning point for Argentine racing. This Saturday, the series will aim to rekindle its magic with fans at Palermo.