Ardiendo at the Top and The Great Racing on Fire for the 2000 Guineas

This Saturday’s G1 at San Isidro brings together several of the best juvenile colts on turf in an unmissable race

Ardiendo looks to confirm his status in the 2000 Guineas/ JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Diego H. Mitagstein

An outstanding Saturday of racing awaits at Hipódromo de San Isidro. With exciting conditionals, significant betting additions, and a compelling graded stakes treble, the card promises plenty of action—despite a weather forecast that looks less than ideal.

After the fillies contest the Clásico Bayakoa (L) and the mares take the spotlight in the mile-long Clásico Eudoro J. Balsa (G3), the young males will face one of the key stages in the second-half turf season: the traditional Gran Premio 2000 Guineas (G1). Since its debut in 1980 at the Jockey Club, this race has been a highlight of the calendar.

Twelve are entered following the expected scratch of G3 Bolero Frank (Gidu), making this an important contest to finalize the rankings. The clear favorite is Ardiendo, the current leader in the standings, who will carry the burden of defending his top spot.

Representing Stud San Isidoro, Ardiendo burst onto the scene with an emphatic 3½-length win in the Gran Premio Gran Criterium (G1), displaying authority and cruising clear in the stretch. That effort included defeating a strong field featuring Drive Joy (Fortify), who later claimed the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile (G1) on dirt at Palermo, besting the star Amor de Contramano (Gouverneur Morris).

Ardiendo, trained by Juan Saldivia, arrives here in similar form to his May 25 Criterium triumph. After dropping back to 1400 meters in a conditional race, he notched a dominant five-length win—the first valid victory of his career, following a disqualification on debut. He will look to hold off Es Por Amor (Strategos), who finished second to him in the Criterium.

Ardiendo’s main challenger is stablemate The Great Racing, owned by Stud Patria Blanca. This son of The Great Day has made headlines recently, winning by an astonishing 14 lengths over a mile just 36 days ago, galloping impressively. Having lost only once—when second in his debut to Uncle Moi (Uncle Mo)—The Great Racing now faces a higher level test to prove his mettle.

Beating The Great Racing puts Uncle Moi firmly in the mix among the leading contenders. Representing Stud-Haras Firmamento, Uncle Moi is joined by Real Rim (Remote), another Firmamento runner who, before a surprising failure in the Gran Criterium, had finished a close second to Drive Joy in the Clásico Raúl y Raúl E. Chevalier (G2), ahead of the now G3 winner Liberto (Hurricane Cat).

Also notable is Forging (Forge), a dual winner who arrives off a fine conditional victory and appears to be peaking under trainer Pablo Sahagián.

Full Keynote (Full Mast), winner of the Antártida Argentina (L) and with solid placings in the Chevalier and Gran Criterium, carries high regard for Stud-Haras Gran Muñeca and is expected to be in the thick of things late.

Others bringing momentum from recent wins include Hi Mohmix (Hi Happy), Have Fun (Fortify), and Cortocircuito (Strategos). The Great Wells (The Great Day) rounds out the field after finishing fifth in the Criterium, having won his debut in the Clásico José B. Zubiaurre.

Finally, the local hopeful Piñazo (John F Kennedy), fresh off a third-place finish in the Clásico Pedro Goenaga (G3), completes a talented and intriguing field. All signs point to a high-quality show that makes a trip to San Isidro well worth the effort.