Apertura, Buenos Aires and Omnium: the Classic Menu to Kick Off 2026

The first two will be contested on Saturday the 3rd over the turf at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, while the latter is set for Sunday the 5th on the grass at Hipódromo de San Isidro

G1 Comando Secreto was entered for the Clásico Buenos Aires / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The first stakes races of the 2026 season have begun to take shape, with potential contenders now known. The centerpiece of the opening weekend will come on Saturday, January 3, at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, where fans will be treated to a pair of must-see contests.

Both will be staged on the turf, led by the Apertura (G2, 2200 meters), for fillies and mares three and up, and the Clásico Buenos Aires (G3, 1600 meters), open to horses three and older. The respective winner’s purses stand at ARS 13,960,000 and ARS 11,385,000.

The Apertura shapes as a wide-open affair, with a competitive group that includes Contrast (Safety Check), Doña Lucila (Equal Talent), Dra. Nazli (El Rosador), Foggy of Song (Sixties Song), Invocación (Treasure Beach), Lysva(Gouverneur Morris), Miss Kalima (Seahenge), Narayana (Hi Happy), Pasaron Cosas (Treasure Beach), Portal Maya (Portal del Alto) and Satya (True Cause).

Meanwhile, the Buenos Aires has attracted a strong and varied entry list, among them Academus (Treasure Beach), Chanclette (Super Saver), Comando Secreto (War Command), Coyan Maro (Cityscape), Don Latido (John F Kennedy), Don Zahir (Daddy Long Legs), Monsieur Delon (Il Campione), One Thing (Brz–Verrazano), Sharim(Daddy Long Legs), Tipazo (Equal Talent) and Viejo Varieté (Qué Vida Buena).

Palermo will also race on Monday, January 5, highlighted by the Handicap Liloy (1000 meters, dirt). Open to horses four and up, the sprint has drawn eight entries, with Filoso Class (Filoso Emperor) assigned top weight of 60.5 kilos.

Over at Hipódromo de San Isidro, the spotlight on Sunday, January 4, will fall on the Clásico Omnium (L, 1400 meters, turf), for fillies and mares three and up. The provisional field numbers 11 and includes Amour D’Ete (Sixties Song), Bachata Queen (Storm Embrujado), Dream Serena (Forge), Elvitas (Cosmic Trigger), Indiana Candy (Señor Candy), Intrusión (Gouverneur Morris), Lessons of Life (Le Blues), Orpen Rimout (Remote), Razones (Daddy Long Legs), Tranquila Señora (Fortify) and Verenna (Cosmic Trigger).

The Jockey Club venue will also offer racing on Friday, January 2, and Wednesday, January 7. The former features the Especial Badruddin (1200 meters, dirt), for fillies and mares five and up, while the latter is anchored by the Handicap Condal (1600 meters, dirt), with Sabiyano (Fortify) set to carry top weight of 60 kilos.

Altogether, the early-January program lays out a compelling roadmap for the opening salvos of 2026, blending depth, variety, and quality across Argentina’s two major racing centers.