Argentina: Pollas Point the Way Toward Triple Crown Aspirations
- Turf Diario
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Eighteen Colts, Nine Fillies Entered for the Guineas at Palermo; Crazy Talent, Need You Tonight Clash in San Martín
The Argentine Triple Crown for 2025 took its first official step Monday with the entry stage for the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1, 1600m, dirt) and Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (G1, 1600m, dirt), the opening legs of the series, both to be run Sept. 6 at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo.
A total of 18 colts and 9 fillies were signed on for two of the nation’s most coveted prizes, trophies that every owner dreams of one day lifting. The purses will reach ARS 74,555,000, with ARS 35,000,000 to each winner. Participation comes at a cost: the entry fee is ARS 1,500,000 per horse, a system adopted in recent years that, effectively, means much of the prize money is supplied by the connections themselves.
The recent injury suffered by Amor de Contramano (Gouverneur Morris) helped open the door to a wide field in the Polla de Potrillos, with several stables encouraged to take their chance.
Heading the entries is Drive Joy (Fortify), winner of the G1 Estrellas Juvenile over that rival. Among his main challengers are Liberto (Hurricane Cat) and Gardel Pass (Distinctiv Passion), second and third in the G2 Miguel Cané; Winston (Forge), who landed the G3 Polla de Potrillos at La Plata; Full Caluroso (Full Mast), victorious in Saturday’s Clásico Vilmar Sanguinetti on turf at San Isidro; and Es Por Amor (Strategos), third behind The Great Racing (The Great Day) in the G1 2000 Guineas.
Also possible are Chaplin (Nicholas), El Resero Con Capa (Angiolo), Full Keynote (Full Mast), In the Island (In the Dark), Lago Nahuel Huapí (Hurricane Cat), Last Chance (Hurricane Cat), Llebrenc (Forge), Marruecos (Leofric), Nevado Catedral (Gouverneur Morris), Piu (Leofric), Sargento Morris (Gouverneur Morris), and Tendence(Winning Prize).
The Polla de Potrancas may have drawn fewer names, but the quality is undeniable. Charm (Strategos) will look to secure a third top-level success after victories in the G1 Gran Premio de Potrancas at San Isidro and the G1 Estrellas Juvenile Fillies at Palermo.
Roshita (Gouverneur Morris), who captured the G1 Jorge de Atucha before losing her unbeaten record in the Estrellas, will seek redemption, while Moon Frank comes off a sparkling score in the G2 General Luis María Campos. Expected to return is Tiz Joy (Fortify), heroine of the G2 Eliseo Ramírez, while other leading candidates include Forti Leaf (Fortify), successful in the G3 Manuel J. Güiraldes; Mi Confesión, runner-up there and later winner of the Listed Bayakoa at San Isidro; as well as Cannolina (South Kissing), Lessons of Life (Le Blues), and Souq (Forge).
The Argentine Triple Crown continues with the G1 Gran Premio Jockey Club (2000m, turf) at San Isidro in October, and concludes back at Palermo in November with the G1 Gran Premio Nacional (2500m, dirt).
The Polla day will also feature another highlight: the G1 Gran Premio General San Martín (2400m, turf, ARS 22,000,000 to the winner). The race serves both as Palermo’s qualifier for the G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano at Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, and as the final stage of the Campeonato de Oro Verde.
After sweeping the G2 Chacabuco and G2 Comparación, Crazy Talent (Equal Talent) will face off against Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja), who annexed both the G1 República Argentina and G1 Estrellas Classic on dirt, and now tests the grass. Other G1 winners entered are Acento Final (Treasure Beach) and the mare Ceniza Pampa (Hat Ninja), along with Oleguer (Equal Stripes), The Gladiator’s Hat (Hat Ninja), and Gadzooks (Galán de Cine).
Final confirmations and post position draws for all three features will be taken next Monday.
